Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,430, for Francis Mercereau, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Mercereau, Francis
NUMBER
S. 34.430
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

15.720 R
New Jersey
Francis Mercereau
of Hobokin in the state of New Jersey who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Shepard of the Napachagitt line, for the term of Three Years
Inscribed on the roll of New Jersey at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 12 of October 1819
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 of March 1823 and sent to William Lepnington Esq. New Ark New Jersey
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819 $38.19
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Mo 24 31
$38.19
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
Francis Mercereau

State of New-York, } City and County of New-York, }
ss.
I, BENJAMIN FERRIS, Clerk of
the City and County of New-York, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said City and County, Do hereby Certify, That PETER AUGUSTUS JAY, Esquire, before whom the annexed affidavit was made, and who hath subscribed his name to the Certificate also hereto annexed, was on the day when the said Affidavit was made, and the said Certificate signed, Recorder of the City of New-York, and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, and duly commissioned and sworn. And further, that the said Court is a Court of Record; that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Peter Augustus Jay, and verily believe that the signature of P A Jay subscribed to the said Certificate, is the proper hand writing of the said Peter Augustus Jay.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this twenty second day of June 1819
Benj. Ferris Clerk

State of New-York,
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, ss.
I, BENJAMIN FERRIS , Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said City and County,
Do hereby certify, That RICHARD RIKER , Esquire, before whom the annexed Affidavits were made, and who hath subscribed his name to the Certificate also hereto annexed, was on the day when the said Affidavits were made and the said Certificate signed, Recorder of the City of New-York, and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, and duly commissioned and sworn. And further, that the said Court is a Court of Record of the State of New-York, and that the signature of R. RIKER subscribed to the said Certificate, is the proper hand writing of the said Richard Riker.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this Twelfth day of January 1819
Benj: Ferris Clerk

Francis Muserau Paint Soldier Colonel Shepard's Regt Massachusetts line 1781-war
[Large, stylized signature or flourish]
returned to the War office with Genl. Howe June 18, 1778
Robert H. G. New York
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

To the Honorable Richard Riker
Recorder of the City of New-York, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, which is a Court of Record of the State of New-York,
The Declaration of Francis Mercereau formerly a private soldier engaged in the Service of the United States, during the Revolutionary War, and now a Citizen of the United States, and resident of Hoboken in the State of New Jersey.
Respectfully Showeth, that the said Francis Mercereau enlisted as a private soldier in the Spring of the year 1781 for and during the war Captain Lomax's Company Col d Shepherd's Regiment called the 4 th Massachusetts and actually continued in the service of the the United States, until the end of the war in 1783 making about Two years Service - I was in the action at the White Plains and at the end of the war I was honorably discharged but my discharge I have lost. I am now about 66 years of age
And this Declaration further representeth that the said Francis Mercereau is now a Citizen of the United States, and residing in Hoboken - aforesaid,

and is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from his country for support;
Therefore he conceives himself entitled to the benefit of the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," approved, March 18, 1818, and requests that your Honor will examine into the truths of the matters aforesaid, certify and transmit the testimony in this case, and the proceedings had thereon to the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War, to the end that such relief may be had in the premises, as is by law in such case provided. And in support of the facts above set forth, he refers to the Declaration of himself and of Antony Latour hereafter set forth,
Dated, the 23 rd day of October 1818
City and County of New-York, ss. Francis Merceran
being duly sworn, says, that the matters by him set forth in the foregoing Declaration, are in all respects just and true.
Subscribed the 23 day of Oct 1818 before me,
Francis his X Merceran mark
J. Rike
Recorder of the City of New York
City of New York ss. Antony Latour of the City of New York aforesaid being sworn doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with Francis Merceran the above applicant that I knew him to be in the service of the United States, from the year 1781. until peace in the year 1783 in a Regiment of the Mapachus Line in the Revolutionary service in the service of his Country about two years and was a servant and cook in the family of General Howe. Antony Latour Sworn this 23 Oct 1818 J. Rike

City of New York ss: Attila Freeman being duly sworn saith that he was a private soldier during the Revolutionary War in the Third Regiment of the Continental Establishment and has received a Pension under the act of Congress of the 18 March 1818. And this Deponent further saith that he is well acquainted with Francis Mercereau named in the annexed petition and became acquainted with him in the Army. That when this Deponent enlisted he found the said Francis who had already enlisted as a soldier in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Shepherd and knew him to be a soldier in the said Regiment for about three years - That the said Francis was during a part of the said time a Servant to General Howe but still remained a soldier & received pay as such. And further that the said Francis is now old blind in reduced & indigent Circumstances & needs the Assistance of his Country for support -
Sworn the 19 June 1819 Before me having been first read to the Deponent by me -
P. A. Jay -
Attila
his mark
Freeman

City and County of New-York, ss. Be it Remembered, That on the sixty thirty third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen before me, Richard Pike Recorder of the City of New-York, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, which is a Court of Record of the State of New-York, personally appeared the aforesaid Francis Mercerum Applicant, and Antony Latour and well known by me and
entitled to the fullest credit, who being by me duly sworn the truth of the facts stated in the foregoing declaration.
Whereupon I being satisfied that the said Applicant did serve in the Army of the United States, on the Continental Establishment, in the Revolutionary War, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and longer, to wit, for the term and in the manner stated in the declaration of the said Applicant; and that he is fairly and justly entitled to the benefit of the Act aforesaid.
Therefore, I do hereby Certify and transmit the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, as before set forth, to the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the said Court, at the City of New-York, the day and year last above written.
R. Pike
City of New York ss. Attila Freeman being duly sworn - saith that he was a soldier in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Full Knapp during the revolutionary war & that he hath received a pension under the act of Congress of the 18 March 1818. And further that he is well acquainted with the above named Francis Mercerum & knew him while he served in the fourth Regiment with his defendant . And that the said Francis served in the said Regiment with his defendant three years & is now old & blind & poor sworn this 17 June 1819 Before me

I Peter Augustus Jay Recorder of the city of New York & one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas called the Mayor's court of the said city do certify that the within named Francis Menereau has appeared before me, & that he is infirm and almost totally blind & it is proved to my entire satisfaction that he is in very indigent & reduced circumstances in life and needs the assistance of his country for support. And further that the within named Deponent Anthony Latour is an inhabitant of this City and a decent man of good character to whom testimony full faith is due. Of the other Deponent Attila Freeman I know nothing which tends either to confirm or impeach his credibility unless it be his having received a pension for his own services. as he is unable to read or write & pronounces indistinctly I am not certain that his Christian name is correctly spelled in his deposition. Given under my hand this 22 d day of June 1849.
P. A. Jay

Francis Mercereau
15.7.20
March 10 1920
Low
Abraham Westerveld, Esq. Agent - Hackensack, Bergen Co. N.J.

District of New Jersey. Bergen County ss. On this 25 th day of October, in Dm. 1820. personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bergen aforesaid in open Court, being a Court of record, possessing a Seal & having a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount & proceeding according to the course of the Common Law - Francis Mercereau aged sixty five years resident in the County aforesaid, who being first duly sworn doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows; that he enlisted in the year 1780. in Captain Leonards Company - fourth Massachusetts Regiment - Massachusetts line, when he was honorably discharged the said Regiment being under the command of Colonel Shepherd; that the date of his original application was on the 12 th day of October 1819. that as a late Private in the Army of the Revolution aforesaid he has received a Certificate from the War Department, as a Pensioner inscribed on the Pension List Roll of the New Jersey agency, dated the 9 th day of November 1819 - being numbered 15,720 - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818. & that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property 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 & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed the 18 th March 1818. & 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 & by me subscribed that I follow no occupation being entirely deprived of my sight. That his Family consists of himself & his wife Catharine aged thirty five years, who is able to work that he has no property to render an account of, excepting what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & that he cannot support himself without the charitable aid of his Country.  Sworn to & Declared in open Court the 25 th day of October 1820. Gab. A. Ford. Francis X Mercereau his mark.
Schedule referred to in the foregoing Deposition -
2 Straw Beds 1.25 - 1 fiddle - 5.00 - 1 old Table .75 - $7.00
Sworn to, & Declared in open Court the 25 th day of October 1820. Gab. A. Ford Francis X Mercereau his mark
I Abraham Westervelt, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Bergen aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing oaths & the schedule 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 seven dollars. -
In testimony, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this twenty fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty -
 Clerk

34 430 Rev INVALID.
File No. 34, 430
Francis Mercersan
Pls Rev Had
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Francis Mercier and Declaration, —:—
P 1 to 83
Shepard Mapack
Regr
Admitted

District of New-Jersey ss:
On this twelfth day of October A D 1819. before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the District Court of the United States, for the said district, personally appears Francis Mercereau aged Sixty six years of age resident in Hoboken in the County of Bergen, in the State of New-Jersey, in the said District, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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." - That the said Francis Mercereau enlisted in Pitskill in the State of New York, in the Spring of the year 1781, in the Company of Captain Lornard in the Regiment of Col d Shepherds, called the 4 th Massachusetts. That he continued in the service of the United States until the end of the War in 1783, when he was discharged from service in the City of New York. That he was in the battle of White Plains in service previous to his entering on the above service & Mud Fort, And that he is in reduced circumstances, & stands in need of the assistance of his country - for support.
Sworn to and declared before me the day & year aforesaid -
Sworn before me the 12 th Day of Oct r 1819
William Sternington District Judge
his Francis Mercereau mark

I William Pennington District Judge of the United States in and for the District of New Jersey, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Francis Mercereau the before named applicant adhered in the revolutionary war, as stated in the foregoing Declaration against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, and also the record before the Recorder of the City of New York, to the Secretary of the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the above mentioned act of Congress. and I do also certify, that from the appearance of the said applicant (he being an Old Blind Black man) I am satisfied that he is in reduced circumstances and in need of assistance from his country given under my hand the twelfth Day of October, eighteen hundred and nineteen —
William Pennington
District Judge
Note The reasons for transmitting the proceedings had before the Recorder of the City of New York, is to save the trouble and expense of bringing the witnesses before me
William Pennington
I William Pennington Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the New Jersey District, do certify that the Signatures to this Instrument of William S. Pennington, are in the proper hand writing of William S. Pennington Esquire District Judge for the New Jersey District,
As Witness my hand & the Seal of the said District Court at New Ark this fourteenth Day of October, A.D. 1849 —
Wm Pennington