Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20394, for Benjamin Lawrence, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Lawrence, Benjamin W. 20394 or Laurence, Mary Parker
CONTENTS

3420
New York City Agency Mary Parker Lawrence widow of Benjamin Lawrence N.Y.
who died on the 30th April 1817 at New York City in the State of New York who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Aaron Van Hook of the 1st Regt. commanded by Col. M'Clusky in the New York line for 1777
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 12 00 Dollars. — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th 19 th day of May 1836 to Mary Parker Lawrence New York City New York Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $1.320.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept., 60.00 $1.380.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d }
Recorded by M c Alister Clerk, Book C Vol. 15 Page 21 John Bigelow N.Y. No. 10 New York
Lt to Bigelow May 31. 1842 same June 10. 1842
Date of death not on A.B.

I, NATHANIEL JARVIS, CLERK of the City and County of New York, and Clerk of Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, (said Court being a Court of Record,) do hereby certify, that Moses G. Leonard, Esq. before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was at the time of taking the same, Alderman of the 9th Ward & Justice of the Peace & a Judge of said Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said City and County, duly appointed and sworn, and authorized to take the same, and that I believe the signature of said Justice is thereunto subscribed genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 11 day of October 1841.
Nathl. Jarvis Clerk.
of the Peace and, who the widow of said where Applicant Lawrence
who was a Revolutionary soldier, and served in the New York Line as Sergeant during the war, that the evidence of his service has been heretofore clearly shown, that she resided at Haverstraw in the State of aforesaid, previous, and at the time she was married to her late husband as above named, that she was married to him as she has stated in her previous declaration that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory she cannot specify the exact time when her marriage to the said Benjamin Lawrence took place but knows it took place prior to the first day of September, seventeen hundred and eighty two, for the reason that her oldest child was born in between nine and eleven months from the time of her marriage to the said Benjamin, that she knows said oldest child John Lawrence would be if now living fifty eight years old on the twenty fifth day of May last, that from his age she knows her marriage took place in the month of July or August 1782, that her oldest child the before named John Lawrence was a nursing infant

Court: certify, & was No.
State of New York City and County of New York JR
Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a justice of the Peace in, and for the County aforesaid. Mary Parker Lawrence, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that she is the widow of Benjamin Lawrence, late a resident in the City aforesaid, where she now resides, that she this deponent is now an applicant for a pension as the widow of the said Benjamin Lawrence, who was a Revolutionary soldier, and served in the New York Line as Sergeant during the war, that the evidence of his service has been heretofore clearly shown, that she resided at Haverstraw in the State aforesaid, previous, and at the time she was married to her late husband as above named, that she was married to him as she has stated in her previous declaration that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory she cannot specify the exact time when her marriage to the said Benjamin Lawrence took place, but knows it took place prior to the first day of September, seventeen hundred and eighty two, for the reason that her oldest child was born in between nine and eleven months from the time of her marriage to the said Benjamin, that she knows said oldest child John Lawrence would be if now living fifty eight years old on the twenty fifth day of May last, that from his age she knows her marriage took place in the month of July or August 1782, that her oldest child the before named John Lawrence was a nursing infant

at the Breast when the said Benjamin, as above named, the deponent deceased husband returned home from the Army with his final written discharge, which fact she now well remembers.
Sworn before me October 7 th 1841
Shir Mary P x Lawrence Mark
O. W. M c Smith Special Justice Justice of the Peace
I, Nancy Lawrence, of the City of New York resident do depose and say that I am now aged fifty three years that I am the widow of the son of Mr. Mary P. Lawrence widow of Benjamin Lawrence who had made the foregoing deposition, that my late husband John Law- rence was the oldest child of the said Benjamin and Mary P. Lawrence, that I have been intimately ac- quainted with the said Mary since my earliest recollection, that I know she is the widow of the said Benjamin Lawrence on account of whose military services she is now claiming a pension, that my late husband the said John as is named in the deposition aforesaid died on the thirtyth day of Oct r eighteen hundred and thirty, that in the winter following after his death I caused Gravestone to be duly inscribed and erected to his memory over his grave in the Grave Yard corner of Forsyth and Houston in the City of New York.

that the following is a true copy of the inscriptions on any late husband's gravestone, as was thereon inscribed in the winter of (1830 and 31,) and erected at his grave,
In
Memory of John Lawrence who departed this life Octo 30 th 1830 Aged 47 years 5 months and 5 days
Affliction sore long time I bore Physicians' art in vain Till God did send death as a friend To free me of my pain,
"I the said Nancy Lawrence, as before mentioned do depose and say, that the foregoing is a true extract from the gravestone of my late deceased husband, the oldest child of the said Benjamin and Mary Parker Lawrence that I well understood his exact age, and know the foregoing extract is true,
City and County of of New York
Nov 1841
On this seventh day of October A.D. 1841. personally appeared before me the subscriber, the said

Nancy Lawrence, subscriber to the deposition aforesaid, and made solemn oath to the deposition to which her name is subscribed
STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } 38.
I, NATHANIEL JARVIS , CLERK of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CER- TIFY, That Henry W. Merrill Esq before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Special Justice of the Peace in and for the said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that I believe the signature of said Justice thereunto subscribed and genuine.
The Honorable Henry W. Merrill Justice of the Peace
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the
7 day of October — 1841
Nath Jarvis
Clerk.

Nancy Lawrence subscribed to the deposition of said, and made solemn oath to the deposition to which her name is subscribed and I do further certify that the said Nancy Lawrence is a credible witness
O. W. Smith Assistant Justice of Justice of the Peace

4466
Mary Parker Lawrence
N.Y.
at 4 July '36
x 80. d 17.
adm
2 years Serf
120 $
No deduction
C. A. May
B. de L. Lawrence
New York

STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.
I, Joseph Hoxie , Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That
Thomas G. Talmadge Esq before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, an alderman and a Judge of said Court in and for the said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same, and that I believe the signature of said Alderman thereto subscribed, and is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 10 th day of April 183 9 .
Joseph Hoxie Clerk.
a resident of the city of New-York in the County of New-York and State of New-York aged Seventy Seven and upwards 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 4th, 1836; That she is the Widow of Benjamin Laurence who was a in the Revolutionary war Soldier in the company of Captain Honatrammek in the fifth New-York Regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois , and that she has not married again since the death of her said husband.
She further Declares, That she was married to the said Benjamin Laurence  nce  in the month of April day of _____ in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty _____ ; that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Laurence  or about died on the thirtieth day of April 1817 ; and that she has remained a Widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
SWORN to and subscribed, on the } day and year above written, before }
Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Court
Mary Barker  X  Laurence Mark

DECLARATION
Clerk of
TO OBTAIN THE
Benefit of the Third Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July, 1836.
State of New York City and county of New York } ss.
On this fourth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before the Manhattan Court of the City of New York
Mary Parker Laurence
a resident of the city of New York in the County of New York and State of New York aged Seventy Seven  and upwards 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 4th, 1836: That she is the Widow of Benjamin Laurence who was a in the Revolutionary war soldier in the company of Captain Homtramm in the fifth New York Regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois , and that she has not married again since the death of her said husband.
She further Declares, That she was married to the said Benjamin Laurence  on the month of April day of _____ in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty  or about ; that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Laurence died on the thirtieth day of April 1817 ; and that she has remained a Widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
SWORN to and subscribed, on the } day and year above written, before }
J. M. [unintelligible]
Justice of Peace Court
Mary Parker
her X Laurence Mark

I John Barberie Clerk of the Maine Court at the City of New York do hereby Certify That John M c Scott Esquire is one of the Justices of the said Court and that the said Court is a Court of Record and that the signature to the within affidavit is his genuine signature
In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court this fourth day of April One Thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
John Barberie

State of New York — City and County of New York p. Mary Parker Lawrence of the City of New York being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that she is now the widow of Benjamin Lawrence formerly of the said City now deceased who was during a part of the Revolutionary War in Cap= tain Hamtramcks company in the Fifth New York Regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois in which Company he was a sergeant, and after= wards in the second New York Regiment commanded by Colonel Van Cortlandt. And this Deponent further saith that an Exemplification of the Letters Patent granted to the said Benjamin Lawrence for a Lot of land in the Township of Tully in the Military Tract in the State of New York was in the possession of the said Benjamin Lawrence in his life time and at the time of his death and is now in the possession of this deponent is now in the possession of this deponent . That he died on or about the thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. And this Deponent

further saith that she this Deponent was married to the said Benjamin Lawrence while he was in the American Army and between one  one and eight  two  years  years before the close of the Revolutionary War at Haverstraw now in Rockland County in the State of New York by the Reverend M. Burns the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church then residing at that place and who was then a very aged man: that no Marriage Certificate was given by the Reverend M. Burns. That in the month of August now last past this Deponent went to Haverstraw to search for the Records of her said marriage and had diligent search made among the records of the said Church, but the present Minister after examining all the Books informed this Deponent that the Book of Marriages kept by M. Burns could not be found and that the same must have been destroyed. That this Deponent

lived with the said Benjamin Law- rence as his wife from the time of their marriage as aforesaid until the time of his death at the time herein before mentioned. That Elizabeth Teel of Haverstraw aforesaid was this Deponent's Bridesmaid at her said marriage and this Deponent hoped to find her to get her evidence of the marriage but on inquiry at Haverstraw in August last this Deponent was informed and she believes that she died and had been buried about about a year before at Haverstraw aforesaid. And this Deponent further saith that she doth not know of any living witness to the said marriage cer- emony. That the said Benjamin Lawrence as this Deponent is informed and believes was in the Expedition to Quebec and was with General Richard Montgomery when he was killed, and was afterwards at Fort Montgomery taken a Prisoner by the British and remained some months as

their Prisoner in the City of New- York - and further that this deponent had not since the death of her said Husband remained - that she had four Children by her said Husband, all of them deceased and all of them over sixteen years when her said Husband deceased -
Subscribed & sworn to before me this Second day of April 1839 -
Thos G. Talmadge
Alderman of the Ward and Ex officio Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of and for the City & County of New York

State of New York City and County of New York p. Deborah Van Wart of the City of New York aforesaid the wife of William Van Wart, being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that she is now about seventy five years of age: That this Deponent was acquainted with Benjamin Lawrence now deceased some time before he intermarried with the sister of this Deponent Mary Parker Lawrence named in the an- nexed affidavit: That such marriage took place at Harverstraw in the State of New York about three years before the close of the Revolutionary War and at the House of the Reverend M c . Burns of that place as this Deponent believes. That the said Benjamin Lawrence came to the House of this Deponent's Father on the afternoon of the day of the said marriage to be married to her said sister Mary: That the Rev- =erend M c . Burns lived about a mile from this Deponent's Father's house and was in the habit of performing the marriage ceremony at his own House. That said Benjamin and Mary and three or four couple started on horseback from Deponent's Father's House to go to the Reverend M c . Burns'

House where said Benjamin and Mary were to be married on the same afternoon, were absent a short time and returned again to Deponent's Father's House, when this Deponent understood and had no doubt and doth now verily believe that said Benjamin and Mary had then been married by Mr. Burns: That Elizabeth Teel was her Bridesmaid and is now deceased: That when the party returned from the house of Mr. Burns as above stated this Deponent's mother had a supper prepared for them and in the evening the party had a Dance as was usual on such occasions, and that from that time until his death the said Benjamin and Mary cohabited as husband and wife: That said Benjamin at the time of his said marriage and before and afterwards was in the American Army, and Deponent saw him often wearing the Uniform or Dress of a soldier, and that he continued in the service until at or about the end of the Revolutionary War as this Deponent verily believes. That a Dr. Watson, now deceased, was in the same Regiment with

with said Lawrence at the time General Montgomery was killed, as said Watson informed this Deponent, and was likewise at Fort Montgomery when said Lawrence was taken a Prisoner by the British, but was not then taken Prisoner himself. and that Mary Parker Lawrence has not married since the death of her said Husband
Subscribed and sworn to before me this Second of April 1839 -
Deborah her  X Van Wart Mark
Thos G. Salmas
Alderman of the Ward and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of and for the City & County of New York -

State of New York
City and County of New York ss. William Van Wart of the said City of New York Wood Inspector being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that he is now seventy eight years of age: that this Deponent became acquainted with Benjamin Lawrence the Husband of Mary Parker Lawrence some time about the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty: that when this Deponent so be- -came acquainted with him he, said Benjamin Lawrence and said Mary cohabited as Husband and wife and they were acknowledged as such among their re- -lations and friends while he lived and this Deponent has never on any occa- -sion heard it called in question nor has any doubt that they had been actually married to each other by the Rev- -erend M c Burns as stated in the an- -nexed affidavits. That the said Ben- -jamin Lawrence had a Patent for lands in the Military Tract in the State of New York for his services in the American Army in the Revolution- -ary war as this Deponent was inform- -ed by him and verily believes to be true. That this Deponent was informed by him and believes it to be true that said Lawrence was under the command of Colonel Dubois and was at Fort Montgomery when it was taken by the British and was

made a Prisoner by the British and that the aforesaid Mary Parker Lawrence was never married to any other person since the decease of said Benjamin Lawrence Subscribed and sworn to before me this Second of April 1839. Thos G Salmon
Alderman of the Ward and Ex officio Judge of Court of Common Pleas of and for the City and County of New York
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mr Williams Van Wart the party who has signed the fore- going affidavit. that he is an old resident of the Ninth Ward and man of veracity, and that his affidavit is entitled to every confidence - and further I believe. Mr Lawrence fully entitled to receive pay as the widow of her deceased Revolutionary Husband Thos G Salmon

State of New York Secretary's Office
I certify that it appears by the Military Register in this office that on the 22 d day of March 1777 Benjamin Lawrence enlisted in Captain Hamtramck's Company in the 5 th New York Regiment Commanded by Col. Lewis Dubois to serve during the War. That he was a Sergeant in said Company and was mustered to January 1782.
It appears that at the close of the war the said Benjamin Lawrence was in the Second New York Regiment Commanded by Col. Vanfortlaudt. Lot N o 12 (in) the Township of Tully in the Military Tract was granted to him by letters patent dated July 8. 1790 as appears by the printed Balloting book page 41.
Arch d Campbell. Depr. Secretary
Albany October 8. 1838.

State of New York Secretary's Office
I certify that it appears by the Military Register in this office that on the 22 d of March 1779 Benjamin Lawrence (Sergeant) enlisted in the 5 th New York Regiment in Capt Hamtramcks Company to serve during the war and was mustered to January 1782. And I further certify that it appears by the balloting book of the Commissioners of the Land Office of this State that Sergeant Benjamin Lawrence was in Capt Hamtramcks Company in the 2 d New York Regiment at the close of the Revolutionary war & that a lot of 600 acres was granted to him in the Military Tract as Bounty land [See printed Balloting Book page 41]
Arch d Campbell Dep. Secretary
Albany May 9. 1840

Mary Parker Lawrence
To
John Bigelow
Power of Attorney.

Know All men by these Presents That I Mary Parker Laurence Widow of Benjamin Laurence now deceased, residing in the City of New York have made constituted and appointed and by these presents do make constitute and appoint John Bigelow Counsellor at Law in New York City my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name place and stead to demand sue for and receive a certain Patent for Donnelly Land granted to my aforesaid husband Benjamin Laurence for services rendered by him in the United States Army and by these presents giving and granting unto said Attorney full power and Authority to do and perform all and every act or thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do on my own behalf.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of June in the Year one thousand eight hundred forty two.
Sealed & delivered in the presence of
Mary Parker Laurence
John Bigelow Not Public Notary.
State of New York City & County of New York } ss
Be it known that on the seventh day of June 1842 Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Marine Court in & for the said County in open Court appeared Mary Parker Laurence, the subscriber above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be her act and deed - In Testimony whereof

I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year last above mentioned The words "and seal" on the first line of the second page erased.
David Randall Justice of the Marine Court. & Justice of the Peace of the City & County of New York This sworn to in Open Court.
City of New York } I Abraham H. Sten Clerk of the Marine Court of the City of New York do hereby Certify that David Randall Esquire whose name is subscribed to the foregoing acknow- ledgment was on the day of the date of said ack- nowledgment to wit the 7th day of June 1842 Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York the duly Commissioner & Sworn. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Marine Court this seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two.
Abraham H. Sten Clerk

December 27, 1937.
Mr. Rowland L. Young 447 North Maple Avenue East Orange, New Jersey.
BA-J/ILL Benjamin Lawrence W. 20394
Dear Sir:
The data given herein are shown in the papers on file in pension claim, W. 20394, based upon service of Benjamin Lawrence in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth and names of the parents of Benjamin Lawrence are not shown, nor his residence at the time he entered service in the Revolutionary War given.
Benjamin Lawrence served first on the Expedition to Quebec and was with General Richard Montgomery when he was killed; he enlisted March 22, 1777, served as sergeant in Captain Hamtramck's company, Colonel Lewis Dubois' 5 th New York regiment, was at Fort Montgomery, was taken prisoner and held some time in New York City, and served subsequently in Colonel Van Cortlandt's 2 nd New York regiment, from which he was discharged at the close of the war.
He lived from about the year 1792, in New York City, and died there April 30, 1817. He was by trade a carpenter.
Benjamin Lawrence married, while in service, in Haverstraw, New York, Mary, who was born in April 1760 or 1761, and was living in Haverstraw with her parents, their names not stated. The soldier and said Mary rode on horseback, in company with several couples, to the house of the Presbyterian Minister, after their marriage returned to the home of Mary's parents where her mother had prepared a supper, and where they danced afterwards "as was the custom on such occasions". There are various statements in regard to the date of their marriage; it was probably between 1780 and August 1782. A part of the evidence submitted as proof of their marriage was the inscription on the tomb stone of their eldest son, John Lawrence, in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery at Houston and Forsyth Street, New York City, (in 1842) shown as follows:

"In Memory of John Lawrence, who departed this life, October 30, 1830, aged 47 years, 5 months, and 5 days".
Mary Parker Lawrence, the soldier's widow, was allowed pension on her application executed April 4, 1839, at which time she resided in New York City, New York. It is not shown that Parker was her maiden name. Her name was borne on the pension roll as Mary Parker Laurence.
Benjamin Lawrence and his wife, Mary, had four children, the two eldest were Lawrence and Benjamin; the names of the other children are not shown. It was stated that said children were all over sixteen years of age when their father died, and that they were all deceased in 1839.
In 1839, Deborah VanWart, sister of Mary Parker Lawrence, lived in New York City, with her husband, William VanWart; she was aged about seventy-five years, her husband, aged about seventy-eight years. Jacob VanWart, their eldest child, was born October 9, 1783. Deborah and her sister, Mary, lived in the same house in Haverstraw, New York, at they time said Jacob was born. Deborah VanWart stated that Elizabeth Teel of Haverstraw was Mary's attendant when she was married to the soldier. In October 1841, said Deborah VanWart was deceased.
In February 1841, Mrs. Nancy Lawrence, the widow of the soldier's son, John Lawrence, was a resident of New York City, New York, aged fifty-one years and upwards. She stated that she and said John Lawrence were married in September 1808. This affidavit was made in the presence of Miln Parker, Special Justice, New York City.
It is shown that on account of service in the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Lawrence was allowed 600 acres of bounty land by the State of New York, described as Lot#12, in the Township of Tully (Montgomery County) .
In order to obtain the date of the last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following: Mary

Parker Laurence widow of Benjamin Laurence, Certificate #3720, issued May 19, 1842, rate $120 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of July 4, 1836, New York City Agency.
Your Military Sheet and Generalogical Chart are enclosed herewith.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

New York May 21 1840 Hon. James L. Edwards
Sir) The evidence in the case of the claim of Mary Parker Lemence, widow of Benjamin, as required, in your communication of the 2 d instant, is herewith enclosed.
Respectfully Yours A. de la Pierre

Oct 13. 1844
M rs S. L. Samson
Hon. J. L. Edwards Esq. Gov r of Louisiana Washington D. C.

New York Octo. 12 th 1841
Sir,
I have to inform you, that I have changed my agent in the matter of my application for a pension, as the widow of Benjamin Lawrence under the Act of the 4 th July 1836, that I do hereby constitute and appoint C. A. Gay Esq r of the City of New York, my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to do all things appertaining to my application, that it is my special request, that all communications after receipt of this may be directed to him, and to no other person, that I take this opportunity to express to you my high consideration.
I am very respectfully
Your Obedt Servt Mary Parker Lawrence At her request C A Gay
Wm. L. Edwards Esq r Com r of Pensions Washington

Hon. J. L. Edmunds Esq. Chairman of Pension

New York Oct. 27 th 1841.
Sir
Enclosed is additional evidence in the case of Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence, widow of Benjamin Lawrence, I infer that her claim lays suspended for want of proof of the date of her marriage, which I think the enclosed evidence will remove the difficulty in her case. It appears that her late husband served in the New York Line until the close of the Revolutionary war, and it is clearly shown by the proof enclosed that the marriage took place previous to the close of the war, from which I infer her claim is now pending under the act of July 4 th 1836. Her previous attorney now herself cannot now inform me, under which act the application was made, but it should be under the above mentioned act. The undersigned takes this opportunity to express to you his high consideration.
I am respectfully
Your Ob t Servant
C. A. Gay
Hon. J. L. Edwards } Committee of Pensions } Wash. - }

New York
November 30 th 1841.
Sir
Yours of the 3 rd inst disallowing the claim of Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence, has been received, by which it appears that the department now requires that grade of evidence which the department has heretofore told did not exist, (to wit) record evidence of the date of her marriage,
The claimant desires that the department will reexamine the evidence in her case and inform the undersigned in detail the ground upon which the department disallowed her claim, as no further evidence can be aduced in her case,
The undersigned deemed it proper to inform the department, that by the law of the State of New York, it is not necessary for any marriage ceremony to take place to make a woman the lawful wife of a man, the fact that they lived and cohabited together is sufficient to establish the fact, In this case it is clearly shown by the deposition of Van Klief that the claimant lived with her late husband in, and since October 1782, until his death, and that the claimant had a son by her late husband in the spring of 1783, which fact clearly establishes the fact according to the then and present law of this State that she was his lawful wife nine months previous to the

May 25 th
Spring of 1783, but there is sufficient evidence been submitted in her case, in the deposition of her Sister Van Harts wife, to show that the claimant was married to her late husband by a regular Clergymen, and it has been clearly shown that his oldest child was a legitimate child, which is likewise clearly shown to have been born in May 1783, and you say that he was not discharged until after June 1783, If that is not conclusive evidence, that she was married to him previous to his discharge, it is certainly sufficient to show she was his lawful wife and being such, and his widow is certainly entitled to the benefit of the act of July 4 th 1836.
I am very respectfully your Obed Servt C A Lay
Hon J. L. Edwards Comm r of Pensions Washington D. C.

D. S. The charges of Judge Wechsler Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, for the City County and State of New York, will inform the department more fully what constitutes a legal marriage G. A. Gay
C. Dodge.
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and past events lead me to hope that it will be your pleasure, to bring about a CHANGE.
COURT CALENDAR FOR THURSDAY—COMMON PLEAS.—Nos. 39, 40, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 20, 29, 52, 53, 54, 274, 55, 56.
Reported for the Journal of Commerce. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS—Yesterday. Judge ULCHOFFER, presiding. Christina Dentz, vs. Randolph Yenni and Daniel D. Nash.
This was an action of replevin for furniture seized under the following circumstances. For some time prior to December, 1840, a man named Hanbennistel, kept a public house at the corner of Bayard and Orange streets, and the plaintiff lived with him, either as his wife or mistress. In December, 1840, Hanbennistel vacated the premises in Orange street, and went to reside at the corner of Hester and Ludlow streets, whither he removed his furniture from Orange street. When the quarter's rent for February became due for the premises in Orange street, the defendant, Yenni, who was the landlord, pursued the furniture to the house in Ludlow street, and seized them for the rent which was due to him. The plaintiff replevined the goods, and brought this action to prove her right to them. In support of her claim it was denied that she was the wife of Hanbennistel, and that she owned the furniture by virtue of a bill of sale of them from Hanbennistel to her, as payment of her wages as his servant, and also, as reparation for the injury her character had suffered by living with him as his mistress.
On the part of the defendant it was alleged, and testimony adduced to prove that Hanbennistel had always spoken of and to the plaintiff as if she was his wife, and that the public were thus induced to suppose she was his wife. There was however no testimony adduced to show that any marriage ceremony had ever taken place between them, and it was alleged that Hanbennistel was married prior to his connection with the plaintiff.  The Court charged the Jury, that a marriage may be inferred, if the circumstances of the case warrant such an inference. Nor is it necessary in a legal point of view that a marriage ceremony should have taken place. A man says to a woman, "I take you for my wife, and she says I take you for my husband;" that is a legal marriage and cannot be dissolved but by a divorce; and in such a case a second marriage would be void. A marriage may be proved by circumstances, such as cohabitation and reputation, and where the persons live together as man and wife. If for instance you go into a man's house, and he introduces you to a woman as his wife, that is one way by which a marriage may be proved.
In this case the Jury had heard the evidence, and if they were satisfied that Hanbennistel had contracted a marriage obligation with another person, prior to his connection with the plaintiff, he could not have formed one with her, until the prior one had been dissolved. If you think that the plaintiff was the wife of Hanbennistel, she had no right to bring this suit in her own name, but if she was not his legal wife she could do so.
If she was not his wife, then came the question what consideration did she give for this bill of sale. Is there evidence that she gave consideration for this $600. If he gave her these goods as reparation for injury he did to her character, he had a right to do so, and that would have been a sufficient consideration. But if the goods were given her with a view to defraud creditor or to provide for future cohabitation, then the conveyance of them was void, as the law instead of allowing such things, condemns them. Verdict for the defendant.
For plaintiff, Mr. Camp. For defendant, Jas. T. Brady
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Feb 26. 1842
New
To Mr Lawrence
J. L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

New York City Feby 24/48
J. L. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions -
Sir I am instructed to apply to your department on behalf of Mary Lawrence for a Pension under the Act of 1838.
She was the wife of Benjamin Lawrence of the Revolutionary Army. Her papers were reported by Mrs Lawrence, as not to have been sent on about three years since but the neglect of the various individuals to whom this matter was entrusted by Mr. Lawrence has prevented her receiving any information about the success of her Appl n .
If there be any thing defective in her case which disqualifies her for a Pension you would oblige me by returning all the papers connected with the matter to my office at your earliest convenience that their defects may if possible be repaired.
M rs Lawrence feels the more anxiety

in the matter inasmuch as she was induced to give up a Patent for 600 acres of land formerly conferred as a Military Bounty upon her husband for the purpose of strengthening her claim upon the government - but which Patent she has never been able again to recover possession of. She has been assured that it was sent on to your office and that it is still among the papers pertaining to her Appl n . You will at once perceive the importance of this document to her And I presume it will be quite unnecessary for me to assure you that she like most other pension claimants is in a very distitute Condition.
With Respect I remain
Yours &c Dr. D. J. Gilmore Atty at Law No 77 Nassau St N.Y.

May 2. 42
Hon. J. M.
Mr. J. L. McLean Mary
Eden ice Department of Pensions Washington D. C.

New York April 29 th 1842
Dear Sir,
You will much oblige Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence, by causing her papers pertaining to her claim for a pension, now on file in your office to, be laid before the Committee of the Senate on Pensions, to which committee her case has been referred for adjustment, as the enclosed letter will inform you.
I take this opportunity to assure you of my respect, and your compliance with my request aforesaid will save me the trouble and expe- nse of a journey to your City WA Jay
Hon. J. L. Edmonds } Chairman of Pensions }

May 10. 1842
My Hon. Mr.
J. P. Edwards Commr. of Pensions
Mary Parker Laurens
Washington D.C.

New York May 9 th 1842.
Dear Sir,
In relation to the case of Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence I deem it proper, to inform you. That, her petition which was presented in the Senate, was, committed to Mr. Prentis who lately resigned, after his resignation, there being no evidence before the committee, they were discharged from the further consideration of her case. In relation to the validity of her claim for a pension under the act of Congress of July 4, 1836 I have to say, that, I have made full enquiry of all the surviving branches of her family, and in the neighborhood where the marriage took place, to wit, Haverstraw in Rockland County in this State, and from their statements, I am satisfied that, her marriage took place some time in the Spring of 1782. It appears most probable that it took place in the month of April, of that year, but there is no records of any description to show the date of her marriage, and the only record that can be found to exest, of the birth of children is contained in an inscription on a grave stone, that shows that she had a son born May the 25 th 1783. That son died in the year 1830, and in 1831, the grave stones were engraved and erected. If that grave stone, would be considered good evidence, I see no cause why it should not be good evidence of the fact that she was married over

in season to be entitled to the benefit of that act, as you informed me in your letter of the 8 November last. That your sister Rolls, showed that her late husband was not discharged until after June 1783" thereby showing that, that child was born before her late husband was discharged. Therefore if that Grand Stone, would be deemed good evidence, in her case I respectfully desire, that you would so inform me, and it will be properly identified and sent to the department, as it will be much expedient, to furnish such evidence, you will much oblige me if you will info me, in relation to it as evidence
Y. and very respectfully Your Obed Servt A A Lay
Heard J. S. Edwards } Commrs of Pensions }

Hoard J. L. Edward Namur of Pension

New York May 16. th 1842
Dear Sir,
Enclosed is the evidence in the case of Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence, which I understand by your letter to me of the 13 th Inst. would probably prove that the relationship of man and wife existed previous to her late husband's termination of service, of the fact that it did exist there is no question.
I would respectfully desire that the affidavits of the said John Lawrence Widow and Mr. Wm Van Bort, which was presented in October last, may be examined with the enclosed which I think will establish the proper identity of the son being the identical John Lawrence.
I am very respectfully your most Obedient Servt - C A Gay
Hon J. L. Edwards } Counsel of Pensions } Washington D.C. }
Oct 30. 1830. 47 83- 12 2/5
111111 June 11111 25 May 88

Thos L. Edwards

New York May 18 th 1812
Hon. S. L. Edwards
Commission of Pension
Sir
Enclosed you will receive some additional and explanation evidence in the case of Mrs Mary Parker Laurence an applicant for a Pension. Her claim was not allowed upon the testimony already transmitted in consequence of the an inconformity between the proofs of her age and her marriage. Of course I need hardly say that such an incongruity was wholly unknown to Mrs Laurence until she was informed of its existence through the letter of the department. The explanation of that fact which is given by the old lady in the accompanying affidavit referred to her and was told to me by her immediately on my reading the letter to her. She was aggrieved and indignant

as the thought that an unauthorised and forbidden perversion of her statements - and instructions by her then agent (Mr Lay) should have thrown a suspicion on her veracity, and finally almost the last, most certain the most important worldly hope of her declining age. The explanation I speak, which she gives seems to her the only possible mode by which the error inconsistency could have occurred; about the fact of the controversy with Mr Lay on the subject of her age she is most positive. And from the character excellent character of the petitioners and the large number of highly respectable aged persons in the city who remember her & her husband Benjamin Lawrence as Man & Wife, for a period which fully corroborates her statements, - I have no doubt that she must have been unconsciously led into the error she has committed, in the manner to which she testifies. If the commission has had any occasion to become acquainted with Mr Lay it will not be thought improbable that such false mistakes may have been made by him.
Cumulative evidence of a similar tenor to the enclosed might have been, and may be if desired sent to the Department. It was thought however

most convenient to the Commissioners, or first to send single and not duplicate Evidence to the same point; if Lawrence any further Evidence by affi- davit is desired, to prove Mrs Lawrence's actual marriage before the period required by the act of Congress, - or that she was then of a proper age to marry, - and necessarily older than the deponent was obliged to infer from the conflicting testimony before until explained, - such affidavit, will be promptly furnished
The enclosed Papers would have been sent on at a much earlier date had not the pressure of professional business at our present Circuit unavoidably pre-occupied my time.
With the highest respect
Yours the Serpent
To Hon J. L. Edwards      J. P. Bigelow Washington D. C.      A. H. Russell

May 30. '42
May Parker Lamener
Ink No. 2
J. A. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

N.Y. City May 27 th 1842
To J. L. Donards Esqr
Commr of Pensions
In Me
Supplemental papers which were furnished you in support of Mary Parker Lawrences claim for a Pension, were forwarded during my absence from this City by my partner who was ignorant of Mrs Lawrence, claim for a patent of Bounty Land which had been previously submitted to your Department in my first communication upon this subject
In your letter of the 5 th March you say that "the Patent will be returned to her upon her application" It was upon that suggestion that Mrs Lawrence directed the following Clause to be inserted in her last affidavit. "And this deponent farther

says that she was duly authorised and Empowered John Bigelow to ask for and receive a patent for Bounty Land heretofore granted to her aforesaid husband said patent containing in all about 600 acres & this deponent hereby constitutes said Bigelow her Special Attorney for that purpose hereby intending these presents to be a full and sufficient authority to any person or persons or bodies corporate to deliver to the said Bigelow any evidences of Title Patents &c in their possession or under their control."
Upon looking at a copy of the letter forwarded by my partner I perceive no Appl n is made for this Patent and I concluded that to have been the reason why it did not accompany the order for the pension. Hence I trust you will excuse me for again troubling you with a request that you will send on to me the Patent referred to at your earliest convenience
Yours very Resp y .
John Bigelow
No 77 Nassau St New York.

June 15. 1842
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

To J. L. Edwards Esq
Sir I hasten to acknowledge
the receipt of "the land patent in the case of Benjamin Laurence dec d and the affidavit attached to it" - by this morning's Mail.
I remain with respect
June 13 th 1842
Yr obt Servt.
M rs Bigelow Atty for Mary Parker Laurence.

July 13. 1842.
NY Quat
Mary Parker Follen Esq.
Edwards Esq. Gardner of Louisiana Washington D.C.

New York. 10 th July 1842.
Sir,
The additional evidence, in the case of Mr. May, Foulkes, Lawrence, enclosed in my letter to you of May 16 th 1842, has not been reported on,
I am respectfully Your Dist Servt B A Jay
J. L. Edwards Esqr. Names of Persons }

July 20. 1842.
Miss
J. S. Lawrence Edwards Esquire Museum of Pennsylvania Washington D. C.

New York, July 17 th 1842
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 14 th inst. informing me that the claim of Mary D. Lawrence, had been admitted and her certificate, had been sent to her Atty. Mr. J. Bigelow, on the 20 th May last, has been duly received. You would much oblige me by transmitting to me. a copy or copy. of such letters as may have been adressed to the said Mr. J. Bigelow, in her case, as I have not the acquaintance of that gentleman. You would oblige me. much. by informing me. if the evidence indorsed in mine of 16 th May last was, or was not, the proof upon her claim was admitted.
With much Respect
I am Sir, your Obedt Servt L. A. Gay
J. S. Edwards Esq r Commrs of Pensions

June 10. 1842.
J. L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pension Washington D.C.

To J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir Accompanying this letter you will receive a power of attorney for me from Mrs Lawrence which I trust you will find satisfactory and sufficient to remove all obstacles to the delivery of the instrument therein referred to
I remain your obt Servt
June 7 th 1842
John Bigelow
Counsellor at Law
No 77 Nassau
June 8 th - I have just discovered that I have enclosed to you what I presumed to be the foregoing letter but which must have some thing else. If you will be so kind as to return that paper & accept of the foregoing as its substitute you will oblige Yours &c. M rs Bigelow

C. A. Gay July 14. 1842

187 Law off July 14 '42
Sir
In answer to yours of 10 inst respecting the action of the Dept. upon the addl. evidence in the case of Mary Parker enclosed in yours of 16 may last, I have to refer you to her att o Mr. J. Bigelow of your City to whom her certificate was sent on 20 May & who filed in his office a power of att o from the Claimt.
G. A. Lander New York

Sen Off July 20. 42
Sir
In reply to yours of 9-17 in the case of Mrs Mary Parker Lawrence I would remark that the Dept. can not take cognizance of any disputes about the rights of attorney- ship in pension claims — It is the duty of the Dept. to put the claimant in possession of the pension awarded and to adopt the most advisable means to accomplish it — In this case Mr. Bigelow has furnished the most satisfactory evidence that he had the confidence of claimant and the certificate was forwarded to him under the following circum- =stances — The case was taken up & admitted on 18 th May upon the testimony enclosed — In yours of 16 th of that month but before the certificate left the office Mr. Bigelows, letter of the 18

may enclosing add l evidence was rec d & on 20 May the certificate was mailed to him
July 20. 42
C. A. Lay Esq. New York

Letter to C. W. Lacy Esq.
July 11. '42
same " 20. '42

December 27, 1937.
Mr. Rowland L. Young 447 North Maple Avenue East Orange, New Jersey.
BA-J/ILL Benjamin Lawrence W. 20394
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Benjamin Lawrence (2) and Elisha (Elijah) Parker, all of Freetown, Massachusetts, and with which you enclosed a report citing military service and a genealogical chart pertaining to those men.
Revolutionary War records of this office consist of claims for pension and bounty land which have been made to the United States based upon service in that war.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of an Elisha or Elijah Parker, or Benjamin Lawrence, in which it is shown that they ever lived in Bristol County, Massachusetts, or in any county adjoining Bristol County. The record has been found, however, of a Benjamin Lawrence of New York, whose widow, was Mary, the name given on your chart. His record is furnished herewith as shown in pension claim, W. 20394.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

447 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE EAST ORANGE NEW JERSEY
December 11, 1937
Director, Veteran's Bureau Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
I would much appreciate any information such as dates of birth or death, children and parents, of two veterans of the Revolutionary War whom I believe were my great-great grandfathers living in Freetown, Bristol Co., Massachusetts.
Benjamin Lawrence of Freetown - Elisha Parker 8 5
The first U.S. Census of 1790 carries the following listings of two Benjamin Lawrences and one Elijah (Elisha ?) Parker as residents of Freetown, Mass.-
Free White Males-16yrs & up Free White males under 16yrs. Head of Family- Lawrence, Benjamin 1 - Lawrence, Benjamin 1 1 Parker, Elijah 1 4
Free White Females - 3 3
The military records of two Benjamin Lawrences and one Elisha Parker of Freetown from "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War" by Sec'y of Commonwealth are attached, as is also a family chart.
Thanking you for any assistance your records may give, I am
Very truly yours,
Rowland Lawrence Young
Attached: Military Service Sheet Family Data Sheet
R. L. Young
Enclos.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20394 Mary Parker Laurence widow of Benjamin Laurence Sergt Rev. War
Act: July 4, 1836
Index:—Vol. 61 , Page 420
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1137. Rec. 27-Box. to Mr. Rowland & Young. 1888.

born 25 May 1783.

STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.
I, NATHANIEL JARVIS, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Robert H Morris Esq before whom the annexed deposition s  were taken, was, at the time of taking the same Mayor of the City of New York in and for the said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and authorized to take the same, and that I believe the signature s of said Mayor thereunto subscribed and genuine:
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 16 day of May 184 2
Nath Jarvis Clerk.
See being alderman at the Dutch St Church at the time was the
In memory of John Laurence who departed this life October 30 th 1830 Aged 47 years 5 months and 5 days. Affliction for long time I have Physicians art was vain Nij; God did send death as a friend To free me of my pain
And he does further say that the month named on said Tomb Stone is Oct r and that the above alteration in this deposition was made before having been sworn to or subscribed by him and that it appears by said Inscription said John Laurence died on the thirteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred thirty and was at the time of his death fiftyseven years five months five days old. Further the deponent says not.
Sworn to before me this 16 th May 1842
Frederick R Lee
Robert H Morris Esq Mayor of the City of New York I affirm that I know the above named Frederick R Lee to be the Alderman of the 17 th Ward in the City of New York: Robert H Morris Esq Mayor of the City of New York

City County of New York
Frederick R Lee being duly sworn deponeth & says that he is the alderman of the 17 th Ward of the City of New York and at the request of the C. & A. Co. he visited the Dutch Reformed Cemetery on the corner of Houston Street where this day was there a tomb stone at the head of a grave which to appearance had been some years in that situation and upon which was the following Inscription
In memory of John Laurence who departed this life October 30 th 1830 Aged 47 years 5 months and 5 days.
Affliction for long time I have Physician's art was vain Sire; God did send death as a friend To free me of my pain
and he does further say that the month named on said Tomb Stone is Oct er and that the above alteration in this deposition was made before having been sworn to or subscribed by him and that it appears by said Inscription said John Laurence died on the thirteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred thirty and was at the time of his death fiftyseven years five months five days old. Further the deponent says not.
Sworn to before me this 16 th May 1842
Frederick R Lee
W. T. Mott Jr. Mayor of the City of New York I after reading the above named Frederick R Lee to be the Alderman of the 17 th Ward in the City of New York: W. T. Mott Jr. Mayor of the City of New York

Colr Van Wart to
New York April 23 rd 1831
W m A Moore Dr
to Cutting 171 Letters at 1 1/2 Cts Letter — $ 2. 66 2/3
Received Payment Alfred Moore
was for the engraving on the late Mrs Hannah Grand Stone, a copy of said engraving was duly set forth in the affidavit at the time and was forwarded to Hon J. S. Edward enclosed in a letter that deponent addressed to him in the case of Mrs Mary Parker Lawrence, for a similar in October last
Sworn before me this 16 th day of May 1842
C A Gay
R. H. MOORE Mayor of the City of New York
City & County of New York / ss
Edward Patterson being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with C. A. Gay who makes the preceding deposition, that he has known him for the last five years & that he is a credible witness
Sworn before me the Edward Patterson
City this 16 th day of May 1842
R. H. MOORE Mayor of the City of New York
City of New York. I hereby Certify that the affidavit of Edward Patterson is satisfactory evidence to me that the deponent C. A. Gay is a credible person as a witness
May 16. 1842 — R. H. MOORE Mayor of the City of New York

City and County of New York ss Chauncy A. Lay being duly sworn deposeth and says that the annexed bill, was handed to him by Mrs Lawrence, widow of John Lawrence who informed this deponent, that said bill was for the engraving on her late hus- band's gravestone, a copy of said engraving was duly set forth in the affidavit at the time and was forwarded to Hon J. S. Edward enclosed in a letter that deponent addressed to him in the case of Mrs Mary Parker Lawrence, for a publication in October last
Sworn before me this 16 th day of May 1842 R. H. MOTT Mayor of the City of New York
City & County of New York ss Edward Patterson being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with C. A. Lay who makes the preceding deposition, that he has known him for the last five years & that he is a credible witness
Sworn before me the Edward Patterson City this 16 th day of May 1842 R. H. MOTT Mayor of the City of New York
City of New York. I hereby Certify that the affidavits of Edward Patterson is satisfactory evidence to me that the deponent C. A. Lay is a credible person as a witness May 16. 1842 - R. H. MOTT Mayor of the City of New York

State of New York
City and county of New York S.S.
Nancy Laurence of the city of New York aged fifty one years and upwards being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that she was well acquainted with Benjamin Laurence of the city of New York, Carpenter, from the time of her first recollection to the time of his decease. That in September one thousand eight hundred and eight this deponent was married to John Laurence one of the sons of the said Benjamin Laurence by his then wife Mary Parker Laurence now his widow. That the said Benjamin Laurence had the annexed paper purporting to be an exemplification of Letters Patent to him, several years before his decease, and that the same was among his papers at the time of his decease. That this deponent frequently saw said paper in his possession several years before his decease and knows it to be the same which was so in his possession of said Benjamin Laurence.
Mrs Nancy Laurence.
Affirmed before me
February 17 th 1841.
Miln Parker, Special Justice.
I do certify that I am well acquainted with the above Mrs Nancy Laurence and that she is a credible and highly respectable female.
Miln Parker,
Special Justice.

The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God free and Independent: To all whom these presents shall come Greeting:
Know ye that we having inspected the Records remaining in our Secretary's office, do find there recorded in Lib: Mil. Pat. No 4, page 331 certain Letters Patent in the words and figures following, to wit:
The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God Free and Independent: To all whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Know ye, that, in pursuance of an act of our Legislature, passed the 6th day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety; entitled, an act to carry into effect the concurrent resolutions and acts of the Legislature for granting certain Lands promised to be given as County lands, and for other purposes therein mentioned, We have given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant and confirm unto Benjamin Lawrence, all that certain tract or lot of Land situate, lying and being in the county of Montgomery and in the Township of Tully, known and distinguished on a map of the said Township (filed by our Surveyor General in our Secretarys office, agreeable to Law), by lot Number Twelve, containing six hundred acres, Together with all and singular the rights, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging, or in any wise appertaining; excepting and reserving to ourselves all gold and silver mines and also five acres of every hundred acres of the said tract or lot of Land

for highways: To have and to hold the above described and granted premises, unto the said Benjamin Laurence his heirs and assigns, as a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance forever. On condition, nevertheless, that within the term of seven years, to be computed from the first day of January next ensuing the date hereof, there shall be one actual settlement made on the said tract or lot of land hereby granted, otherwise these our Letters Patent and the estate hereby granted, shall cease, determine and become void.
In testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of our said state to be hereunto affixed.
Witness our trusty and well beloved George Clinton, Esquire, Governor of our said state, General and commander in chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, at our city of New York, this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety and in the Fifteenth year of our Independence. Geo Clinton.
Louis A. Scott, Secretary.
Examined and compared with the original by me Louis A. Scott Secretary.
Approved of by the commissioners of the Land office, and passed the Secretary's office, the 20th day of August 1790.
All which we have exemplified by these presents.
In Testimony

In testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of our said State to be hereunto affixed.
Witness our trusty and well beloved John Fay, Esquire, Governor of our said State, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same, at our city of Albany the twenty seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, and in the twenty-fifth year of our Independence (Seal) John Fay
Passed the Secretary's Office , the 27 th day of Oc- tober 1800. Daniel Heale.
A true copy
W m Ogden Niles, Clerk in Pension Office.
June 9. 1842.
The Original Patent of which the above is a copy, was sent to John Bigelow, No. 77, Nassau St. N.York, June 10. 1842 J.D.W.

I, William Van Wart on oath depose and say that I now reside in the City of New York, that I am now aged eighty two years, that in my family Bible I have a true record of the date of birth of all my children, that the following is a true extract from my family Bible of the date of the birth of my eldest child. Jacob Van Wart was born October 9 th 1783.
I, William Van Wart as above named, depose and say, that the foregoing is a true extract from my family Bible and that I know the extract above expressed the true date of the birth of my eldest child, that I well remember that I had been married at least one year when the said Jacob Van Wart was born, that at the time I was married I knew Mrs. Mary Parker Lawrence my deceased wife's sister, to be the wife of Benjamin Lawrence, that I know she continued his wife during his lifetime and that she is now the widow of the said Benjamin Lawrence, on account of whose military service in the Revolutionary war, she has been, and is now, claiming a pension. That I as much believe, the said Mary was legally married to the said Benjamin, as tho' I had been present at the marriage, that it has been a fact well understood that the said Mary was married to the said Benjamin at least four months.

previous to my marriage to her sister, that it is a fact well understood and remembered, that the said Mary payed the minister for for the marriage at the time the marriage took place, that during the winter of 1782, 83, or the winter previous to the birth of my oldest child the said Mary and Benjamin resided in the same house with me at Haverstraw and their oldest child John Lawrence was born the following Spring or the Spring previous to the fall when the British evacuated New York
Wm Leonard Ald. 9th Ward.
§ 22 Van West
City and County of City New York  New York
of New York 3d Personally appeared before me the subscriber William van Wart, subscriber to the foregoing deposition and made oath in due form of law to the Affidavit to which his name is subscribed, and I do further certify that the said William van Wart is a credible witness, as witness my hand this ninth day of October A. D. 1841.
Wm. G. Leonard.
Ald. 9th Ward. City New York.

In the matter of the application of Mary Parker Lawrence widow of Benjamin Lawrence for a Pension under the act of 1838.
In the Marine Court. Monday March 21. 1842
City & County of New York ss. Mary Parker Lawrence being duly sworn says that she was the wife of Benjamin Lawrence formerly a Soldier in the Service of the United States - That she will be eighty one or two Eighty two years of age in the month of April next. That During the latter part of the revolution- ary war she resided with her parents at Haverstraw in this State, and their residence having been threatened by an incursion of British Soldiers her Mother concealed a number of valuable articles, in the neighbouring woods among which was the family Bible of the Parents of this deponent That the Bible above mentioned was stolen from its place of concealment and was never afterwards recovered as this deponent believes by herself or any other member of her family. That by reason of the loss of said Bible and the Certificates of the ages of the members of this deponents family and that of her father she is unable to state precisely the year of her present age whether it is 81 or 82.
This Deponent farther says that she was married to the said Benjamin Lawrence in the month of May immediately succeeding the April when she was Eighteen years of age.
This Deponent farther says that a Mr Lay was recommended to her for the purpose of furnishing aid and in prosecuting

her said claim before the Pension department that she was unacquainted with said Lay before that time - that she stated to him her age as above but that said Lay made some calculations and finally insisted that she was in error, - That this deponent insisted that she was right and that she wished said Lay to take down her age as she desired, that said Lay finished the paper and said it was all right but this deponent fears that said Lay in the said paper misrepresented the age of this deponent. This deponent further says that she has duly authorized and constituted John Bigelow an attorney at Law in the City of New York to be her lawful attorney for the purpose of prosecuting her aforesaid claim for a pension under the act of 1838 and does hereby authorize & constitute him her attorney as aforesaid hereby revoking any power or authority whatsoever conferred heretofore by her or any other person for the purposes aforesaid And this deponent further says that she has duly authorized and empowered the said John Bigelow to ask for and receive a patent Bounty Land heretofore granted to her aforesaid husband - said patent containing in all about 600 acres and this deponent hereby con- =stitutes said Bigelow her special attorney for that purpose hereby revoking intending these presents to be off a full and sufficient authority to any person or persons or bodies corporate to deliver to the said John Bigelow any evidence

to the said form in question
or to his order any evidence, of Title, Patents, Charters, grants, deeds or instruments of Title to any Bounty Land heretofore granted to the said Benjamin Laurence by the United States Government - hereby revoking any former power or authority for a similar purpose granted or conferred upon any other person or persons whatsoever.
Given before me this 21 st day of March 1862
her Mary Parker X Laurence Mark
Judah Hammond Justice the Marine Court

In the matter of the application of Mary P. Laurence for a Pension.

In the Marine Court
City County of New York ss. Sarah Westfield of the city of New York being duly sworn before a magistrate says that she was born in the year 1782, that she will be sixty years of age in the ensuing month of May, she has resided in the city nearly the whole period since her infancy. That previous to and during the year 1792 she was acquainted with Mary Parker Laurence & Benjamin Laurence a revolutionary soldier; that the said Mary and Benjamin lived together at that time as then Husband & wife, and were generally known and believed to be such at that time; deponent also knew their two eldest living children then living, named Benjamin & John Laurence who lived with the said parents at that time, and who were also generally known and called the children of the said Mary Parker Laurence & Benjamin Lau- rence, and were by them so called & recognized at that time, to wit in the year 1792. They Deponents parents and family were well acquainted with the said Married Couple who lived next neighbors to the residence of this deponent; this deponent continued to know them until the death of the husband Mr Benjamin Laurence, that from the time of deponents first acquaint- ance with them until the death of the latter they lived together in this city as man & wife, and brought up a family of children, reputed and believed to be their own, and so recognized always by the said Mary Parker Laurence & Ben- jamin Laurence; deponent is yet well

acquainted with the said Mary Parker Lawrence who is the same person now applying for a pension through J. Bigelow attorney at Law.
Sworn to before me this 21 st day of March 1842
Sarah Westfield
Judah Hammond Justice Marine Court —
Sarah Westfield Affidavit

In the Matter of the Petition of Mary Laurence for a Pension
City Court of New York John Shepard Jr. master Boat-Builder of the City of New York being duly sworn says: That he has been for many years and is now acquainted with Mrs. Mary Laurence the above applicant, and with Mrs. Sarah Westerlo a deponent in this matter, and that their character for truth and veracity has, always been, so long as this deponent has known them, and is now perfectly good
Sworn to before me this 10th day of Mar. 18. 2 W. R. Beebe
John Shepard Jr.
Commissioner of Sleds

Shepard Jr.
Offidant
55 West Bowdoin

In the Marine Court of the City of New York
City County of New York ss On this Sixth day of May 1842. Before me personally appeared before me in open court John Shephard who being by me duly sworn deposes and says that he is a resident of the City & County of New York that he has been acquainted with Mrs Mary Parker Lawrence the applicant for a pension mentioned in the foregoing papers, for upwards of forty years and that he was also acquainted with her husband John Benjamin Lawrence more than forty years ago. That the said Mary & Benjamin lived together as man and wife and were generally reputed to be married and this deponent never entertained a doubt of their having been so married nor has he ever heard a doubt of it suggested by any person of their acquaintance. That he has been intimately acquainted with the family for the greater part of the above period and would have been likely to know all about the domestic relations of the said Benjamin & Mary Lawrence.
Sworn in open court
John Shephard JEN
May 6. 1842 before me
Joseph Hammond Justice Marine Court
I do hereby certify that the above named John Shephard has been proved to my satisfaction to be a credible witness

In Marine Court City of New York
It is hereby certified that it is satisfactorily proved to me that Sarah Masterfield and Mary Parker Lawrence named in the annexed papers are persons of credibility and veracity and entitled to full credit - and that John Shepard Jr who named is a person of credibility and veracity and entitled to full credit. and that the fore- going Depositions are satisfactory evidence to some of their contents - Dated New York May 17. 1842.
Judah Hammond Justice Marine Court