Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4,814, for Oliver Mears, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Mears, Oliver Strong, Lydia (Former widow.)
No. 4814.
CONTENTS
7

5272 Ohio
Sydja Strong formerly widow of Alvin Strong M ch who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Dec 1827 and sent to
Hon. W. A. Sackett Washington City
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 36 Vol. 1
38
A
Letter to Hon. M. T. Jackson (Foly 11/50)
" " Saml. Hull " " "

The State of Ohio, Court of Common Pleas June Term A. D. 1846 Erie County p. 3
June 10 th 1846 being the 8 th day of said Term
In the matter of the Guardians, Declaration, In order to obtain the benefit of the of Lydia Strong a Lunatic Act of Congress, of the 7 th of July 1838 and 23 rd August 1842,
The State of Ohio Erie County, p. On this ninth day of June A. D. 1846 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, then in session in and for said County, John Wears of Huron in said County, and State, and Nathan Parks of Cornwall Huron County in said State the lawfully appointed Guardians of Widow Lydia Strong late of Oliver Wears, said Lydia Strong being insane, in behalf of the said Widow, who is a resident of said County of Erie and State of Ohio and is aged seventy seven years and upwards, the said Guardians being duly sworn according to Law, do on their Oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the acts of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 and the 23 rd of August 1842 granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War, That the above named Widow Lydia Strong was the Widow of Oliver Wears, who was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, That the said Oliver Wears was during the War of the Revolution a resident of Dracut Middlesex County, Massachusetts, that he is supposed to have served in the line or Standing Army, and to have served three or four years as a Soldier from Dracut Massachusetts, The said Guardians further declare in behalf of said Widow that she is supposed to have been married to said Oliver Wears in the year 1784 or 1785 at Hillsborough or Danville Vermont, that the said Widow's husband the said Oliver Wears died in the fall of 1808 Eighteen hundred and eight, that said Widow married to Joseph Strong in 1818 Eighteen hundred and eighteen, And that the said Joseph Strong died in 1836 Eighteen hundred and thirty six, and that she is still a Widow. That she was not married to her first husband, the said Oliver Wears prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January 1794 Seventeen hundred ninety four, to wit at the time above stated, (Signed) John Wears, - Nathan Parks
Sworn to in Open Court June 9 th 1846 - Rice Harper Clerk

The State of Ohio Erie County p. 8
I Rice Harper Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Erie aforesaid, do hereby certify that the within Declaration is truly taken and copied from the Journal of said Court of the June Term A.D. 1846 to wit of the 10th day of June 1846. I also certify that said Declaration was drawn up and sworn to by the said therein set forth, on the 9th day of June 1846, and copied and entered on said Journal of said Court on the 10th day of June 1846
In Testimony whereof I do hereunto subscribe my name Officially and affix the Seal of said Court at Sandusky City this 19th day of June A.D. 1846
Rice Harper Clerk
13186.

No 4386 Sydia Strong Miley wid of Oliver Mears
Ohio
Act 7 July 1838
admitted
Pr 80 pr - com 4 March 1836 to 4 March 1841 for 4 March 1843 to 4 March 1848 & for that time, payable to Nathan Parks & John Mears, as trustees, of Lydia Strong, who is insured.
Hon W. A. Sackett, Warrenton City

State of Ohio County of Huron ss Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for Said County Lydia Parks of Said County aged fifty three years & eleven months who after being first duly sworn according to law deposes & says that her maiden name was Lydia Dreas, that her fathers name was Oliver Dreas & that her Mothers name was Lydia, that from her earliest recollection she heard her father the said Oliver talk about having served in the Revolutionary war, that she has heard him tell the officers names who he served under, & many particulars about his service but it is so long since that she cannot state particulars, that her mother the said Lydia was married to Joseph Strong about the year 1818, eighteen hundred eighteen, that the said Joseph Strong died about the year 1836 eighteen hundred thirty six, that her mother has since remained a widow & that the present applicant for a pension is her mother & the identical person who was the wife of the said Oliver Dreas, that she had two brothers older than herself & that her father & mother must have been married previous to the year 1794 Seventeen hundred & ninety four & that her father the said Oliver Dreas died about the year 1809 eighteen hundred & nine
Subscribed to me before me } This Sixth day of June 1846 }
Lydia Parks
Eli Barrum J.P.
I certify that the above named Lydia Parks is a respectable person
Eli Barrum J.P.

STATE OF OHIO, } HURON ss. }
I, Henry Brown Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County of Huron, do certify that
Eli Parmum Esq. is a lawful Justice of the Peace, as above stated, duly elected and sworn, and authorized by the laws of Ohio to take the acknowledgment of Deeds, and other instruments of writing, under seal, and that the above signature, purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Norwalk, this 6 th day of June A. D. 1846
H. Brown Clerk, H. C. P.

State of Ohio } County of Huron } ss Personally appeared before the Subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said County Nathan Parks of said County aged sixty six years, after being first duly sworn according to law, deposes & says, that as early as 1799 seventeen hundred & ninety nine he knew Oliver Mears & Lydia his wife, who were then living together as man & wife, that from his earliest acquaintance with said Oliver, he recollects distin- =ctly of hearing him talk about serving in the Revolutionary war, that he has heard said Oliver tell about being in battle, & a great many particulars about his service, but it is so long since that he cannot remember particulars, that the said Oliver died about the year 1809- eighteen hundred & nine, that the said Lydia the present applicant for a pension, is the identical person who was the wife of the said Oliver Mears, that she said Lydia was married to Joseph Strong about the year 1818 eighteen hundred eighteen, that the said Joseph Strong died about the year 1836 eighteen hundred thirty six, & that the said Lydia has since remained a widow Sworn & subscribed before me) This fifth day of June 1846 } Eli Barnum J.P.
Nathan Parks
I certify that the above named Nathan Parks is a respectable person Eli Barnum J.P.

W 43 86 Sydia Strong, formerly lady of Oliver Mearns
Ohio
Qct 7 July 1838
admitted
Pr 80 pr - com 4 March 1836 to 4 March 1841 from 4 March 1843 to 4 March 1848 & for that time, payable to Nathan Parks & John Mearns, as trustees, of Lydia Strong, who is insured
Hon W. A. Sackett, Washington City

State of Ohio } County of Erie } ss
Personally appeared before the Subscriber one of the judges in & for Said County, John Mears of Said County aged fifty one years & after being first duly sworn according to law deposes & says, that his father's name was Oliver Mears & that his mother's name was Lydia, that during the war of the Revolution his father the Said Oliver, lived in Duxbury, Middlesex County Massachusetts, that from his earliest recollection he recollects to have heard his father the Said Oliver talk about having served in the revolutionary war, he remembers that his father told him & others what officers he served under & many particulars about his service but it is so long since that he has forgotten particulars, but he knows very well that from his earliest recollection his father had the reputation of being an old soldier, or a soldier, in the revolutionary war. That he had two brothers older than himself that are now dead, that he has one sister older than himself viz - Mrs Lydia Parks who now resides in Norwalk, Huron County in this State, that his father died about the year 1809, eighteen hundred & nine that his mother the Said Lydia married Joseph Strong about the year 1818 eighteen hundred & eighteen, that the Said Joseph Strong died about the year 1836 eighteen hundred & thirty six, that his mother the Said Lydia has since remained a widow, that his mother the Said Lydia the present applicant for a pension is the identical person who was the wife of his father the Said Oliver Mears -
John Mears
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 10 th day of June 1846 J. W. Brooks Associate Judge -

I certify that the within named John Inneas is a respectable person - full faith & confidence can be placed in his deposition
Morris Farwell Associate Judge Erie County Ohio J. W. Brooks Associate Judge Erie County Ohio
The State of Ohio, Erie County ss.
I Rice Harpur Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Erie aforesaid do hereby certify that Morris Farwell and John W. Brooks Esquires are Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, that their Com- missions both were dated on the 17 th day of March 1840 and will expire on the 17 th day of March 1852, and that their signatures above written are genuine as I verily believe
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 19 th day of June A D 1846
Rice Harpur Clerk

13700 13186 Sydney Sturges  Sturges Wid of Oliver Mearns Ohio
act 17 July 1835

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex p.
Daniel Mean of Billerica, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, whom I certify is a respectable person, after being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says, that he is upwards of Seventy two years of age, - that he resided in the town of Dracut, in said county of Middlesex, during the war of the American Revolution - that Oliver Mean, (the late husband of the late Lydia Mean, and later Lydia Strong) was this Deponent's Brother; that this Deponent can recollect (though but a small boy) of his said Brother Oliver Mean, serving in the war of the Revolution; that after the close of the war he, the said Oliver, removed to the State of Vermont; that his said Brother Oliver, was a farmer, dark complexion, eyes and hair, and fair feet, ten or eleven inches high or in height; that the said Oliver & Lydia must have been married in 1789 or 1790 in Vermont or at least before the year 1791; that he visited Vermont in 1794 from the fact that he, the Deponent was born in 1776 and knows he was eighteen years of age when he visited his brother in Vermont; that he knows and well recollects that his brother Oliver, had as the fruits of his marriage, at that time, toward in 1794, one

child, if not more from one to two years of age; that he well recollects the child and its age and that the child was living at that time, and running about the floor. — That this Deponent knows well that his said brother Olea was about 12 years older than this deponent and that he was married nine or ten years before this deponent, — that the words "if not more" were interlined at the request of Deponent after this deposition was written, beyond the interlineation because Deponent, in refutation was not certain but that he his Brother Olea, had near then one child at that time. to wit, 1794.
Daniel Hears
Subscribed & sworn to, before me this fifteenth day of Decemr, 1848
Marshall Preston Jas of the Peace
(Commonwealth of Massachusetts) Middlesex ss.
I Elias Hovey Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the County & State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Marshall Preston Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in said County, duly commissioned & qualified, and that his signature above written is genuine — my hand given under the seal of said Court the twenty second day of July 1848. — E. Hovey

State of Vermont
County of Caledonia ss Richard Mearns, whom I certify is a respectable person, after being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is upwards of eighty one years of age, that he resided in Dracut Massachusetts, during the war of the Revolution, that his brother Oliver Mearns was older than this deponent, if now living would have been eighty four or eighty five, that his said brother Oliver Mearns served three or four or five years in the war of the Revolution from Dracut, that this deponent did not know any other Oliver Mearns who did serve in the war of the Revolution, and that soon after the close of the war of the Revolution, the said Oliver Mearns removed to the State of Vermont, where he was married to Lydia, the late Lydia Mearns, & the late Lydia Strong, that the identical soldier, the identical person, Oliver Mearns, who served in the war of the Revolution, married the said Lydia & who was the last time this deponent heard from him in Ohio, that the said Oliver Mearns, & the said Lydia were married prior to 1790 that as a data, this deponent was himself married in 1793 and he knows that his said brother & his then wife the said Lydia had in 1793 as the fruits of their marriage two children, the said Oliver Mearns was a farmer and was dark complexion, dark hair & eyes and five feet ten or eleven inches in height Subscribed & sworn before me this 15 th day of April 1848
Richard Mearns
William Mester
Justice of the Peace

STATE OF VERMONT, ) I, Saml P. Nuttall, Clerk of the County Court of the Coun- Caledonia County,....ss. ty of Caledonia in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that
William Nuttall, Esq. of Peacham
is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 30 th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature to the annexed certificate is genuine,
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 17 th day of April A. D. 1848.
Saml P. Nuttall Clerk.

I Isbida Mear of Andover, in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Husbandman, depose & say, that Oliver Mear, late of Dracutt in the County of Middlesex - Commonwealth aforesaid, and late husband of the late Widow Lydia Mear, / after it, the Widow Lydia Strong — / was this deponents brother that he was four years older than this deponent; that, the deponent is upwards of seventy nine years of age; that he will recollects his brother, the said Oliver Mear, serving a long time in the war of the Revolution, serving several years, at least, two to five years, and all of the last year of the war; That he was the identical person, soldier, who performed the revolutionary service from the town of Dracutt aforesaid; that this deponent knew and recollects well of the absence of his brother, the said Oliver Mear, for several years, in the service of the war of the Revolution; that, he knew of no other Oliver Mear, in the war of the Revolution, and that, the said Oliver Mear, the said soldier — was the identical person and soldier who was the late husband of late Lydia Mear, and later Widow Lydia Strong — That, the said Oliver Mear, was married in Vermont about the year 1785; as a rule, this deponent was married in 1794 and he well knows, that, his brother, the said Oliver

Mear, had then been married nine years, and as another date, this deponent, before his marriage, visited his brother, the said Oliver Mear in Vermont; and that, he had, at that time, as the fruits of his marriage four children; That the said Oliver Mear, was a farmer and had a dark complexion - dark eyes & hair - was five feet and about 10 or 11 inches in height - So help me God
Zebediah Mear
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Essex County } April 2 d 1849.
Then the above named Zebediah Mear, personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing declaration by him subscribed, is true. Before me
Sam O'Keefe
Just Peace

I know all men by these presents that I am personally acquainted with Zebediah Mears, the deponent referred to in the annexed statement, that I have known him for several years, that is to say from twenty to thirty years and have no reason to doubt the correctness of the allegations made by him - In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and notarial seal, this 2 d day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand, eight hundred and forty nine
Wm Phillips Notary Public
Danvers. Co. of Essex
Mass. the Apr. 12. 1849
This certifies that Sam Phillips Esq is a registered Justice of the Peace for the Co. of Essex, Mass, and that I have often seen his signature and believe the foregoing to be said Phillips' real signature - { Daniel P King 2nd Cong. Dist. Mass. M.C.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 4814
Lydia Strong Wid.
Oliver Mears Pitt. Rest. Har.
Act: Feb. 2 nd 48
Index:—Vol. Me , Page 240
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ohio 8717
Lydia Strong formerly widow of Oliver Means who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of Dec r 41 and sent to
Hon W. A. Sackett Washington City
[Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 212

Lydia Strong was widow of Orion man apparently from Ohio
Please report this case to me M. A. Sackett M. C.

✓ 7.600
Wamuth Debell,
1st E. W. Huland, April 11/46.
Rejected March 17/50
July 4. 1836.

V 13. 186.
Lydia Strong Ohio
Let. to A. Ivy, Jan. 15, 47 W. & Wm R. Rose Nov. 7th 48 let. to same Nov 23 48 act 7 July '38.

Ed. to Hon. Wm
A. Sackett
July 31. 49
Set Hon. W. A. Sackett 18 th Aug t 1849
Set to Hon. W. D. Jackson. Oct 19/49

10796 Ohio.
Lydia Strong formerly Widow of Oliver Mearns who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the of in the State of who was a in the commanded by Captain of the commanded by in the line for
Payable to Nathan Party & John Mearns as Trustees for Lydia Strong who is insane
Inscribed on the Roll of Cincinnati at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of Dec 1849 and sent to Hon W. A. Sackett, Washington City
Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by
Book D
Vol. 1
Page 397
J P Chase Clerk,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Dec. 15. 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 Oliver Mears of Braintree, is borne upon a Descriptive List of men from the County of Middlesex, who engaged agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court of the 2 nd December, 1780. to serve for 3 years, as a private - enlisted February 9. 1781. Upon a Muster Roll of Cap t Luke Hitchcock's company, in Col t Joseph Vose's reg t . taken for the month of May, 1781, as a private, enlisted February 9. 1781. for the term of 3 years. Upon several other Muster rolls of said company, in said reg t . as a private, taken for the months of June, July, August, September, October & November, 1781, and January & February 1782. The above, is all the evidence of service, of any one of the name, as shown by the Military Records in this office.
R. L. C.

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.
J. H. G. [Signature] , Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for certificate of Revolutionary Service by the widow Son -
State of New York County of Seneca Town of Ovid The secretary of the commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the rolls in his office of the service of my late husband Nathan Oliver Mears who enlisted in the year in the town of Dracut in the county of Middlesex & state of Massachusetts in the company of Captain in Regiment & served as until We were married in the year He died in the year 1808 The only other facts which I recollect are as follows viz - His residence was in Dracut, Middlesex Co. Mass, & he is supposed to have done much service
I am now years of age & my memory does not enable me to state any thing farther material to the search required - I have empowered Abad Joy of Ovid Seneca Co New York to act in the premises as my attorney - Witness my hand this
2 nd day of October A.D. 1845
Signed in my presence for said Agent Abad Joy Thomas Foster Austin
G.W. Mears By Abad Joy his atty
I certify that from vouchers exhibited before me, Abad Joy appears to be the authorized agent for the above named person.
Thomas Foster Austin

13. 186.
Lydia Strong, wid. of Oliver Mear Ohio.
Act 7 July 1838
Abad Joy, Esq. Ovid, N. Y.

Over N.Y. Dec 21. '46
Sir
I enclose papers in the case of Oliver Stone was Mear, So far as I know or believe, it is a just claim
Respectfully Your Ob t Servt Abad Joy
Hon J. L. Edwards
Coun. of Pensions Washington D. C.

Pension Office July 31st, 1849.
Sir,
In answer to the note of Mr. Loy respecting the case of Lydia Strong, formerly widow of Oliver Means, I have the honor to inform you that the affidavits of Richard and Daniel Means furnished by the Hon. J. R. Giddings have been several times examined in connexion with other evidence filed in her case and the result communicated to Mr. Loy it is supposed through the Hon. R. L. Rose. For the reasons heretofore stated, we cannot admit this claim.

This letter is no answer to the proof forwarded -acted by Hon. Wm. A. Sackett March 31. 49 that proof was affidavit of Lebulon Means, & letter from Town Clerk H. H. H. A. Sackett.

Payment to be made at Cincinnati by James Hall Agent for paying pension- ers, in the Agency of
Ohio
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book Vol- ume Page by
J. F. Hays Clerk.

AM
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Claim for Military Service.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 2 nd February 1848, Lydia Strong of Ohio, formerly widow of Oliver Means who was a private in the Revolution and  died in the year 1808, is inscribed on the roll of pensioners at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum Commencing 4 th March 1848.
The amount is due & payable to her Nathan Parks and John Means as trustees for the said Lydia Strong who is insane.
Given at the Department of the Interior, this 14 th day of Decr one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine
Secretary of the Interior.
Examined and { Countersigned. }
Commissioner of Pensions.

In the letter from the Department of Nov 7. 1848 in the case of Lydia Strong formerly widow of Oliver Mear, no allusion is made of the proof filed as per acknowledgement of a letter from Depart- ment of August 18 th 1848 - this letter speaks of the affidavit of Richard Mear and Daniel Mear, as rec d from Hon I R. Giddings, this proof to lean apply to the case of Lydia Strong, formerly widow of Oliver Mear, it must remove all doubt as to the identity of the Service & of the marriage prior to 1794 the proof upon all the points is strong and founded upon a certain data

Pension Office January 15. 1847
Sir
The papers in the case of Lydia Strong, widow of Orion Mear have been examined and filed
Overd Augt 25 to '48
Sir
I presume the above extract from your letter will be all that you require, in yours of the 18th August 1848.
Respectfully Your Ob d Serv t Brad Joy
Hon J L Edwards Comd. of Pension

Ovid N.Y. July 29- '48
Dear Sir
Will you oblige me so much, & your court-like -cuts still more, by enclosing the inclosed proof to the Court of Sessions, in your own name , It is the case of Lydia Means I hope send the answer to me -
Oblige
Most Respectfully Your Obl d Serv t Abad Joy
Hon J. R. Giddings M. C.

Paid 5
PAID
Hon Wm A Sackett M C Seneca Falls New York

Ovid Augh 9th '49
Dear Sir
The inclosed letter, has no allusion to the proof in the case, forwarded by you for me on the 31 March - please Sir return the letter, asking an answer on the proof you sent March 31. I know you sent it, as it was inclosed in my office on that day & mailed - please inclose the inclosed letter to D. L. Edwards, asking an answer to you. Much Oblige Your friend & Ob d Servt Arad Joy
Hon Wm Lloyd M C

Lydia Strong late widow of Oliver Mear of Ohio, the proof of the proof of Richard Mear & Daniel Mear but the Department in July 1848 may not have been examined as it was very positive, please re-examine it with the present proof, please re-examine the proof fully in this case, as if it is pronounced it will be found clear & satisfactory, the Town Clerk's letter of the fact of no record of marriage is in closed & also of no record of Oliver Mear age 40

A. Lias - Dawit April 10. 49 Edward Page

Danville April 10 th 1849.
Dear Sir since I wrote to you, I have had an opportunity to send to a man by the name of Edward Page, who lives about five miles from this place; he came to Danville about the time that Mr. Oliver Mears did, and was his nearest neighbor until the death of Mr. Mears. He says that Mr. Mears was married in this town to Lydia Brown, by Alexander Harvey Esq. of Barnet, and Mr. Page was present at the wedding. — Mr. Page is between 70 & 80 years old but I believe his memory is good for a man of his age; he is poor, but his character for truth and veracity would be considered as good as men in general; whether he would remember the names and number of all the children of Mr. Mears or not I do not know, but probably there are younger people that would.
Yours respectfully
Adad Jay Esq.
Postage 10 cts
Archelaus Lias.

Geo Honey Dracuh April 6. 49 Nothing

Draught March 30. 1849
Dear Sir
I have searched the town records in order to find the record of the Mears family but have not found the name of Mears on record in any of the books I do not know a person in town that did know them still there may be some you wish to be informed how far this town is from the Boston and Albany Rail Road the distance is about 28 miles but there is a Rail Road from Boston to Lowell 25 miles which is about three miles from this  the latter place Draught is about 28 miles from Newbury. Truell Joy Esq.
Yours Respectfully Geo Hovey

Albany Hill, New York, Oct 27, 1848.
Sir,
To oblige me, will you please examine all of the proof in the case of Eunice Parker, an applicant for a pension from Pa. under the law of 1838. —
I have reason to suppose that on a re-examination of her papers, you will at once grant her a pension.
Yours truly
Robt L. Moore
Hon: J. L. Edwards, Comm ee of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Payment to be made at Cincinnati by James Hall Agent for paying pension- ers, in the Agency of Ohio
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book Volume Page
by J. P. Chas Clerk.

copy
3
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Claim for Military Service.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th July 1838, Lydia Strong of Ohio, formerly widow of Oliver Means who was a private in the Revolution and died in the year 1808, is inscribed on the roll of pensioners at the rate of eighty dollars per annum, commencing 4th March 1836 and ending 4th March 1841.
The amount is due and payable to her only surviving children, viz Nathan Parton & John Means as Trustees for the said Lydia Strong who is insane
Given at the Department of the Interior, this 14 th day of Dec r one thousand eight hundred and forty= nine
Examined and Countersigned. {
Secretary of the Interior.
Commissioner of Pensions.

Young Friends School
Lydia Strong, (former) Lydia Means of Ohio
1811 1812
Please answer & report the within case to me.
A. A. Sackett ch 6.

State of Ohio Huron County ss. John Mear & Nathan Parks whom I certify to be respectable persons after being duly sworn according to law, depose and say, that they are the identical persons who were appointed Trustees for & in behalf of Lydia Strong, formerly widow of Oliver Mear, and that as such Trustees they made application and declaration for a pension for the said widow Lydia Strong — These deponents further depose and say that the said Lydia Strong is still living, and that they as her Trustees do by these presents make application for the continuance of her pension under the act of Congress of the 2 nd February 1848 Subscribed & sworn before me Nathan Parks this 21 st day of Nov. 1849 John Mear Samuel Pennycuick Justice of the Peace
State of Ohio ss. I Henry Brown Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said County of Huron do hereby certify that Samuel Pennycuick Esq. is a lawful justice of the Peace within & for said County, duly Elected Commissioner and sworn according to law and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court at Norwalk this 21 st day of November A.D. 1849
H. Brown Clerk

Lydia Strong, formerly widow of Oliver Mear of Ohio Law of 1838 - See Comd. letter of Augt 18th 1841 - Remarks - marriage alleged to have taken place in Danville Vermont, Town Clerk's letter recd and sent Pension Office that no record of the marriage exists - Full ample, & abundant proof, is on file of the age of Oliver Mear, & of his marriage long before 1814 - please with this proof examine all the proof & letters in the case, & if so, surely a pension will be granted as in no case has more proof, or better or more certain proof been made

Harana Octr 3 1849
Hon J L Edward Low Pension
Sir
Will you have the good to make a report on this case, at an early period
Yours truly, W J Jackson

Newburyport, Essex County,
Massachusetts, Sept. 21 st 1849.
I certify, that, I am personally acquainted with Zebediah Mearns, of Andover, in said County, that, I procured his affidavit, in or about the month of April last, relating to his knowledge of the Revolutionary Service & marriage of Oliver Mearns, which was forwarded to Brad Doy, Esquire, of Orisk New York; and, I certify, that, the said Zebedi- ah Mearns, who executed the said affidavit is of apparently sound mind and memory, and that, I fully credit all that, he states, in said affidavit; and that, he appeared to execute it, conscientiously and understandingly.
Sam d Phillips.
Notary of the Peace, and Notary Public.
I Sam d Merrill of Andover aforesaid, hereby certify, that, I have long known Zebediah Mearns, above named, that I have read the above certificate of Sam d Phillips, Esq., & that I fully concur with him, as to the facts above certified in relation to said Mearns — Sam d Merrill, Notary Public & Just: Peace
I have read the above testimonials of Messrs Phillips & Merrill, and fully concur with them, in regard to the character of Mr Zebedi- ah Mearns.
J. L. Taylor, Pastor of the Old South Church. } Andover Mass. Sept 21, 1849.

Danvers (Mass.) Sept. 25. 1849 This may certify that Sam- uel Phillips Esq. Samuel Merrill Esq. and Rev. J. L. Taylor all residing within the County of Es- sex in this Commonwealth are gentlemen of high and honorable character and of unimpeach- ed and unquestionable ve- racity. I also certify that the gentlemen severally hold the official stations affixed to their names respectively, and that I know their signatures to be genuine.
Daniel P. King M.C. Sec d . Dist. Mass.

Archibald Lewis Town Clerk Danville VA Nothing -
Archibald Lewis Archibald Lewis Archibald Lewis

Danville April 2 d 1849.
Dear Sir, I rec d . your letter of the 21 st of March, last Friday; I have endeavored to comply with your request; The names and ages of Mr. Mear's children are not recorded here. His marriage is not recorded here; It is thought by his old neighbors that he was married in Plymouth N.H. before he moved to Danville. There are a few old people that came to reside in Danville, soon after Mr. Mear came; and were his near neighbors, and were well acquainted with Mr. Mear & family until his death, and the removal of his family from Danville. — I have made diligent inquiry of his old neighbors, and none of them have his name written by himself; and I find nothing of it in the Town Clerk's office. — I likewise called at the County Clerk's office, and could not find his name there. — There are none of the Brown family living at Danville. —
Yours respectfully,
Arad Joy Esq r .
Archelaus Lias Town Clerk.
I have been at considerable trouble to ascertain the facts here communicated. if you should be pleased to send me $1.00 it would be gratefully rec d .

Payment to be made at Cincinnati by James Hall Agent for paying pension- ers, in the Agency of
Ohio
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book Vol= ume Page by
J. B. Chase Clerk.

Copy
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Claim for Military Service.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 3 rd March 1843 & 17 June 1844 Lydia Strong of Ohio, formerly widow, of Oliver Means, who was a private in the Revolution, and died in the year 1808, is inscribed on the roll of Pensions at the rate of eighty dollars per annum commencing 4 th March 1843 & ending 4 th March 1848
The amount is due & payable to Nathan Parks & John Means as Trustees for the said Lydia Strong who is insane
Given at the Department of the Interior, this 14 th day of Dec r one thousand eight hundred and forty= nine
Examined and } Countersigned. }
Secretary of the Interior.
Commissioner of Pensions.

State of Ohio } County of Erie } Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for Said County Daniel Fox of Said County aged Sixty five years & upwards, after being first duly sworn according to law deposes and Says, that when a boy he was a resident of Dracut Middlesex County Massachusetts that as early as 1788 Seventeen and eighty eight, Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war he well recollects Oliver Mears who was a resident of Dracut at that time & who had the reputation of having served in the Revolutionary war, that he well recollects of hearing his Father Abijah Fox & his Uncle Joel Fox talk about being in the Revolutionary war & tell about others that were in the war, & that the said Oliver Mears was one that he heard them talk about as having been in said war, that he never knew the said Oliver Mears & Lydia Strong, the present applicant for a pension, as man & wife, that the first of his acquaintance with the said Lydia was some twenty years ago when she was living with Joseph Strong her reputed second husband, that from the time of his first acquaintance with the said Lydia he understood from her son John Mears & others that her first husband was Oliver Mears of Dracut, who he had formerly known, that he recollects having one or two conversations with the said Lydia about her first

husband the said Oliver Mears to other people of Draket, that he was then & is still in the belief that the said Oliver Mears was the first husband of the said Lydia Strong the present applicant for a pension - That the said Joseph Strong died some years since he does not recollect exactly how long & that the said Lydia is still a widow.
Subscribed to me before me
This second day of June 1846 S
Levi Wilcoxon } Daniel Fox Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Daniel Fox is a respectable person
Levi Wilcoxon Justice of the Peace
The State of Ohio Erie County ss.
I Rich Harper Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Erie aforesaid do hereby certify that Levi Wilcoxon is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, that his com- mission was dated on the 25th day of April 1844, and will expire on the 25th day of April 1847, and that his signature above written is genuine as I verily believe
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 19th day of June A.D. 1846
Rich Harper Clerk