Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,251, for Jacob Merrill, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Merrill, Jacob
L 31,251
CONTENTS

11,281 Maine
Jacob Merrill , of York Co in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Eldridge of the Regt commanded by Col Brainerd, in the Massachusetts Militia Troops —
20 Mo 20 Ds Pr — 58.85
Inscribed on the Roll of — Maine at the rate of 58 Dollars 85 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of April 1833 and sent to B Palmer, Kennebec Me
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 137.70 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Apr 1833. 34.42
172.12
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. D. Sprague Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 1 Page 33

United States of America
Maine District ss.
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Wennebunk , within and for said District on the twenty fifth day of July A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty two before the Honorable Asahel Ware, Judge of said Court.
On this twenty third day of July 1832  aforesaid , personally appeared in open Court  me the undersigned before said District Judge of the United States Jacob Merrill a resident of Wennebunk port, in the county of York in said Maine District aged 73 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 1 th 1832 —
That he served as herein stated.
“ In January 1776, I enlisted in Capt. Eldridge's company for of Buxton for three months, and served in erecting works of defence on Dorchester Heights near Boston and after Genl. Howe left Boston in March, we were dismissed. — M rs Towne & Dene, Cole were lieuts, and Woodman of Buxton was Clerk. In the summer of 1776 — I took my brother Abel's place, in Capt. Daniel's Company for four months he having enlisted for six months, and served two — Stationed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and were employed in erecting works of defence in the harbor I served out six months in said company, Capt. Daniel I believe was of the New Hampshire Troops I think a Col. Long commanded the Regiment —
In December of that year I enlisted with Capt. Samuel Holbrook of Wittery point in the state of Maine for three months and marched to Danbury, in Connecticut, and from thence to Fairytown near West Point in the state of New York and were discharged at Peekskill some time in March 1777 —
I then returned home and enlisted in Capt. David Merrill's company and joined Col. Baers Regiment on the South River as more fully noted in my application for a pension under the law of 1818 — I was placed on the pension list under that law but was stricken therefrom on account of property I had a written discharge from the Army, under my last enlistment which was sent to the war department in 1818 I was born in now Kennebec Port Stroudsb ^ 1759 and have always resided there —
Jacob Merrill
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Before
Asahel Ware
} U.S. Judge for the District of Maine

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the within named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states —
I certify that the above named Jacob Merrill was under the order to attend & make his declaration in open court on account of being in disbarment —
Adams Wan
John Mufsey Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Merrill for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of August A.D. 1832
John Mufsey Clerk

I Jacob Merrill a revolutionary soldier who made oath to the annexed declaration before judge Wave in order to obtain a pension under the law of congress of the 7th of June 1832. In explanation of the same hereby further testify and declare -
That the testimony of Ephraim Wilds who was a corporal in the Army - Abel Merrill who was a soldier Samuel Miller, who was an Officer - William W Hall who is a clergyman and Oliver Bourne who is Port Master at Kennebec port together with my pension certificate under the law of 1818 are the only and all the evidence that I know of in existence that can be obtained or offered in support of my said declaration for a pension under the said law of the 7th of June 1832.
It is believed that the testimony of corporal Wilds will be direct to the purpose and found sufficient to prove my services in Capt Holbrooks company - but that testimony is also supported by the declaration of Abel Merrill.
My services in Capt Eldridges company are proved by the declaration of Lieut Samuel Miller, supported by the testimony of Abel Merrill and by Messrs Hall and Bourne.
My declaration of services in Capt Daniels company at Portsmouth is supported by the testimony of Abel Merrill for whom I was a substitute in said company and by the declaration of Messrs Hall & Bourne. I would state for the notice of the Department at Washington that the same Abel Merrill has been placed on the pension list under the law of the 7th of June last and allowed services in the same Capt Daniels company up to the time when I took his place in that company. His declaration and the evidence in support of his services in Capt D- company will probably if referred to support my declaration of services in said company. I was a substitute for said Abel Merrill in said company as is stated in my declaration and probably must have been stated by him. My services in Col Brewers Regiment I conclude needs no other support than the evidence of my having been on the pension list for that service under the law of 1818.
It was my intention to have stated distinctly that in my declaration before judge Wave that I am not on the Pension list.

Renounce list of any stock and I hereby state that fact and voluntarily relinquish all claims - whatever to a pension or annuity except the present.
Jacob Merrill
State of Maine
York ss. Kennebec Jan'y 24-1833 Then personally appeared Jacob Merrill and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him signed -
Before me
Samuel D. Dummer Justice Peace

I Samuel Miller of Kennebec Port in the County of York and State of Maine on Oath in the Army of the Revolution aged - eighty two years testify and declare that I am acquainted with Jacob Merrill of said Kennebec Port a revolutionary soldier.
In January 1776 I was orderly sergeant in Capt Silas Wilds company in Col. Finnerys Regiment stationed at Cambridge Mass and whilst in this service in the month aforesaid my neighbour Jacob Merrill of Kennebec Port joined that portion of the Army stationed at Dorchester Heights. He belonged to Capt Eldridges company who also went from a town near where I reside (Buxton). I saw Jacob Merrill frequently while in this service. Amos Towne who was also at that time my near neighbour was a lieutenant in the same company they both called upon me at Cambridge soon after they arrived at Dorchester. I presume Capt Eldridges company were Militia men they were but few months at Dorchester. I was at that time in the Continental Service. Jacob Merrill is about eight years younger than myself - I have known him from his childhood - When he joined the Army at Dorchester Heights I had been in Army from the May preceding and was greatly rejoiced to see him and Lieut Towne above mentioned and hear from my friends at home. I remained at Cambridge until after the British troops left Boston but Finnerys Regiment remained in Boston where they remained until August following. The Militia and Jacob Merrill among them remained at Dorchester till on four months from the time they arrived and were discharged. I did not see Merrill at the time he went home he did not call upon me when discharged.
In 1777 said Jacob Merrill was a soldier in Capt David Merrill's company of the 12th Mass Regiment - I was at that time Lieutenant of the same company -
Samuel Miller
State of Maine
York ss Kennebec on January 21 - Then personally appeared Samuel Miller a credible and disinterested witness and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed. Before me Barnabas P. Dyer Justice of the Peace

We William Hall a clergyman of Kennebecport and Oliver Bourne Port Master of said town on oath testify and say that we are acquainted with Jacob Merrill him to be of the age he represents himself to be in his declaration before Judge Ware of the United States District Court viz Seventy three years old. Said Jacob Merrill is reputed to have been a soldier of the revolutionary Army particularly a soldier in Capt Eldridges company in the year 1776 at what is called Dorchester Heights - and also at Portsmouth N.H. in the same year as a substitute for a man by the name of Abel Merrill* now of the town where we reside, and with whom we are personally acquainted and who is also reputed to have been a soldier of the revolutionary war. We are in fully of the opinion that the said Jacob Merrill was a soldier in the said revolutionary war at the periods referred to and also at other periods of the war - and we are also of the opinion that said Abel Merrill* was a soldier in the said revolutionary war -
Wm W. Hall Oliver Bourne
State of Maine York ss Kennebecport January 14 1833 Then personally appeared William Hall a respectable clergyman of Kennebecport and Oliver Bourne the Port Master of said Kennebecport and made oath to the truth of the declaration by them signed, and I certify that they are respectable, and credible witnesses - Before me
Isaac Hemen
* The Deposition of Abel Merrill is annexed.

100-10070. Maine District
District Clerk's Office January 26. 1833
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer and Joshua Herrick Esquires are Justices of the Peace for the County of York in said District and that the signatures to the within and annexed documents purporting to be theirs are genuine I have hereto set my hand and seal of office the day and year last above written
John Nufsey Clerk U.S. Courts

Jacob Merrill
Mar. Sept 1819
pension certificate under act of 1818 wanted
No-31
Admitted
20 mos. 20 days
private $ 68.85.
1819
B. Palmer Esq. Kennebec Me

I Abel Merrill of Kennebec Port, in the county of Kennebec State of Maine, testimony and election where that I am acquainted with Jacob Merrill of said Kennebec Port, and that he is a true and faithful witness to the truth of the matters herein stated.
In January 1770 said Jacob Merrill enlisted into the service of the State of Massachusetts or of the United States and went to Boston several months - and I then understood was engaged in printing works of defense near Boston or Dorchester and was in Capt. Dorrill Eldens company - Capt. Elden I know belonged to Boston in this State. Jacob Merrill is my brother - and resided in the same family with me before and after he went into the service.
In the summer of 1776 I procured Jacob - Merrill to take my place in Capt. Dorrills company at Fort Sullivan in Portsmouth harbor N.H. where I had enlisted for six months and served out two months - My brother Jacob took my place in said company and served out the four months which was unexpired when I left the company. When my brother returned home from the service at the Fort in Capt. Dorrills company he informed me and the family that he had again enlisted with Capt. John Holbrook at Killington Point for three months, and was then on furlough - he then remained at home but a short time and went as I understand with Capt. Holbrooks company to some part of the State of New York, he was absent several months and returned home.
After this he enlisted into Capt. Dorrill Merrill's company in Col. Frazers Regiment and went into the State of New York.
Abel Merrill
State of Maine
York Js.
Aug. 7 th 1832
Subscribed and sworn to. Before me,
Barnabas P. Palmer Justice of the peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Abel Merrill and that he is a credible witness. B. Palmer Justice of the peace

Maine District
District Clerk's Office August 10. 1832
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer Esquire who took the within deposition is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified & that full faith & credit are due to his official attestations I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day & year above written
John Nussey Clerk U. S. Courts

31 251
Rev INVALID.
File No. 31, 251
Jacob Merrill Rev Rev War
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1893, June 3, Hist. Soc. Mr. Giles W. Merrill, St. Paul, Minn. F.D.

See letter to B. Palmer do do
5 May 1829 19 Nov 1832
5905.
Maine
Jacob Merrill
Private
1 July '77 to 20 March '78
Massachusetts line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 9 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 of Jan y 1819 and sent to Benjamin Green Esq r . J. Berwick, M t .
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818 4 mo. \frac{26}{30} $ 38.93 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 March 1819 48.00
$ 86.93
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
6 3/4
Arundel, York Cy

Jacob Merrill
May 1 July '77 to 20 March '78
Adm d . by Capt. C's decision
9 April 1818.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
YORK, ss.
ON this ninth day of April 1818, before me, the subscriber, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the first Eastern District, in said Commonwealth, personally appears Jacob Merrill resident in Arundel in said county of York and state aforesaid, 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 he, the said Jacob Merrill, fifty nine years of age, sometime about the middle of May 1777 enlisted as a private soldier in the continental army for the term of ten months and immediately after joined the company commanded by Capt Daniel Merrill in the regiment commanded by Col Samuel Brewer of the Massachusetts line, at Stillwater and from that place he was marched with said company & regiment to various places and last to Valley Forge, where he was, on the turn title of March 1778 honorably discharged as will appear by the discharge, which is hereto annexed signed signed by Samuel Carlton Lt Colonel and countersigned on the back thereof Bro Patterson B Genl
And that he is reduced in his circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his country for support, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. except the annexed discharge
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
Benj a Greene
I BENJAMIN GREENE, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the first Eastern District, in the Commonwealth aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Jacob Merrill did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy, and I do now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. and that the said Merrill is reduced in his circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his country for support
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Wells this
ninth day of April in the year of our Lord 1818
Benj a Greene

Camp Valley Forge March 20 th 1778
This is to certify that Jacob Morris Soldier of Capt. Don d M c Neil's Comp y in Col d Brewer's Reg t , has lev d . the Term of Time for which he engaged the Service, and has been returned home to the Service
of Main — All Friends & Comrades are requested to furnish him with his proper Rations on his way home —
Sam Carlton H o

The within named Jacob [illegible] has [illegible] and the full time for which he [illegible] and [illegible] has been [illegible] to return to the [illegible] of [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]

Jacob Merrill
Payable semi-annually---the first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of March , next,
at the Cumberland Bank, Portland, Me
Jacob Merrill
Recorded
Jacob Merrill

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818,
Jacob Merrill ————— late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pen- sion List, Roll of the District of Maine ————— Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the ninth day of April ————— one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twenty fifth day of January ————— one thousand eight hundred and nineteen .
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

I Ephraim Wilds of Knowlton Park Hills in Essex County of York and State of Maine do hereby certify and declare that I knew Jacob Merrill at Fannytown and other places in the State of New Hampshire in January and February 1777. He was then a soldier in Capt. Abner Dyer's company in Col. Frost's Regiment of the New Hampshire line. I belonged to the same Regiment but not the same company. We arrived home very nearly together. This was in March 1777. Jacob Merrill has always resided in the same town with me. I am now about eighty eight years old.
Ephraim Wilds
State of Maine York ss. Aug 7 th 1832
Sworn to and subscribed to before me Barnabas Palmer Jus. of the peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Ephraim Wilds, and he is a credible witness.
Barnabas Palmer Justice of the peace

Maine District
District Clerk's Office August 10. 1832
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer Esquire who took the within deposition is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified & that full faith & credit are due to his official attestations I have hereto set my hand and seal of office the day and year above written
John Massie Clerk U.S. Courts.
State of Maine Sept 10 1832
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

St Paul, Minn. May 18 1893.
Hon Wm Lochren Com of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
Will you please give me whatever information may be on record in the Pension Office relative to Jacob Merrill and Amos Merrill (brothers) of Falmouth - Cumberland Co. Maine - who served in the Revolutionary Army - in the Mass Continental Line and were placed on the List of Pensioners, under the act of Congress of June 7 1832?
Respectfully yours
Giles W. Merrill.
No 669 Laurel Ave, St Paul Minn.