Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 8375-160-55, for John Mc Caffery, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Sea Service Navy
McCaffery John McCaffrey McCaffery
YR- B.L. Mt. 8375-160-55
CONTENTS
This mans widow pensioned as Elizabeth widow John Stanford Mass. Wid 22318
→ Elizabeth (Stanford) Former widow

to J. J. Coombs, Sept 12/53
let to First Auditor, Sept 27/53
" duty of State, Oct 3/53
on March 3/55
217183 April 7/55
Elizabeth Stanford Elizabeth Stanford, for and  the  son of
Yrs. Mc Caffery seaman
Capt. Bryant Norton
Capt. Cummings U.S.N.
Rev. P. D. Jones on ship "Ben Homar Rickford" Rev. W. W.
10:10 AM Oct 13 1855 B. O. W.
8375
Vol M. 88
J. J. Coombs Present

United States of America District of Maine Ys.
On this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty four personally appeared before the Hon Ashur Ware Judge of the United States for the District of Maine Elizabeth Stanford of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland aged Eighty - - - years who being first duly sworn doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the acts of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 and the 23 d of August 1842 granting pensions to the widows of those who served in the war of the revolution.
That she is the widow of John McCaffery who was in the Continental Navy and as she believes served as follows. to wit:
That in the Spring of 1777 her husband enlisted or shipped aboard the Ship Surprise in the Port of Dunkirk Capt Cunningham commander and served on board said ship for and during her cruise in which time they captured a British vessel having on board the English mail which was taken into a port in France where Captain Cunningham and his crew were seized and thrown into prison. I heard my husband say that he was in Prison a long time and finally made his escape with other prisoners by digging out under ground. After they escaped from prison he again shipped on board another vessel

under the same Captain as her husband informed her and made a cruise in which they captured several prizes which were sent into Spain. and she has heard her husband say that he continued with Captain Cunningham for a long time and was taken prisoner and confined in England till some time in 1779. She believes that immediately after he was liberated from Mill Prison he went over to France and enlisted under Commodore John Paul Jones and served with him in the Bon Homme Richard thirteen months. She has seen her late husband's discharge from Commodore Jones and she well knows that the discharge certifies that he had served that length of time. He was in the engagement between the Richard & the Serapis and she believes continued with Commodore Jones till his return to France in 1780.
In the summer of 1782 he shipped on board a letter of marque vessel belonging to Nathaniel Dering Esq. Capt Gage as Boatswain and during that voyage was drowned. I never saw him after that
The said declarant further says that she was married to the said John McCaffery on the 22 d day of July 1782 at Cape Elizabeth aforesaid and she believes her said husband was drowned on or about the first of August thereafter. She further declares that after the death of the said John McCaffery she she was married to John Stanford of Cape Elizabeth

on the seventh day of December 1783 and that her second husband John Stanford died on the 16 th day of January 1842 and that she is now a widow
She therefore claims a pension by virtue of the Acts of Congress in this behalf made and provided and believes that said John McCaffery was in the naval service of the United States under Capt. Birmingham at least one year including the time he was prisoner in France & in England and thirteen months under Commodore Jones.
Witness Levi Street
Elizabeth her  X Stanford marks
Sworn to before me this 16 th of March 1844
Adams Wren
Judge of the United States
for the District of Columbia

I Joshua Gammon of Cape Elizabeth in the county of Cumberland aged eighty two years on oath depose and say, that I am a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States. I served in the War of the Revolution under Capt Reed and Capt Lowell and was in the service in the whole two years or more and was stationed at Portland Maine the most of the time. During the revolutionary war. I was acquainted with John McCaffery or McCaffery as his name was sometimes spelt. as it was written. He was employed in the Naval service of the U.S. in the War of the Revolution. I was well acquainted with said McCaffery at that time and I recollect of his informing me that he was in the fleet commanded by Paul Jones and that he was in the engagement between the Rich- -ard & the British ship the Serapis. From the time that I first knew McCaffery till his return from his service in the navy was about three years as near as I can recollect. Soon after his return to Cape Elizabeth which was in 1781. or 1782. he intermarried with Elizabeth Thornicke of Cape Elizabeth. I was present at the wedding. In a day or two after he was married he sailed in a letter of Marque as Boatswain. I never saw said McCaffery after this but I heard he was drowned

The circumstances of Mc Caffery's death were related to me by Jonah Dyer a pure master on board the Letter of Marque as follows: to wit: "A few days after they sailed the Letter of Marque took a prize. He and others including Mc Caffery, boarded the prize in a boat. The prize was found to be laden with crockery or china ware. Mc Caffery took a large quantity of it, put it under his clothes, that he had on, at the time, and then returned to his own vessel. After he got along side, Mc Caffery secured the hand ropes for the purpose of going aboard. The hand ropes not being properly fastened gave away, and Mc Caffery fell between the boat & the Letter of Marque and the weight of the ware that he had in his clothes carried him suddenly down." Jonah Dyer is now dead. Mc Caffery's death took place in a few weeks after his marriage. Elizabeth Mc Caffery his widow married after this John Stanford of Cape Elizabeth who is also now dead. I was well acquainted with Mrs Stanford from her youth and know that the widow of John Stanford is the identical person who married with John Mc Caffery -
Joshua Gammon
Cumberland S.S. February 30 th 1844 Then personally appeared the above said Joshua Gammon known to me as a man of truth & veracity & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of Peace

I Thomas Hannaford of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland of lawful age depose and say that I am Town Clerk of Cape Elizabeth and have in my possession the records of said Town. In one of the ancient Books purporting to be a record of marriages I find the following to wit:
"John McCaffery and Elizabeth Thomdike of Cape Elizabeth July twenty second one thousand seven hundred & eighty two. "E. Clark."
And I certify that the above is a true copy of the Record of their marriage with the exception of the date which is written in fair legible figures thus. " 22 1782."
And on the same Book I find the following thus.
"This may certify that Mr John Stanford and Miss Elizabeth McCaffery Both of Cape Elizabeth was lawfully married December seventh one thousand seven hundred & eighty three." "At d Ephraim Clark Pastor of a Church."
And I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is written in fair legible figures thus " 7 th 1783"
Thomas Hannaford Town Clerk Cumberland ss. February 12 th 1844 Then personally appeared the above named Thomas

Hannaford Town clerk as aforesaid known to me as a man of truth and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed
Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace

United States Maine District
Circuit Court Clerk's Office March 16 th A. D. 1844
I hereby certify that the Honorable Ashur Ware before whom the foregoing pro- ceedings were had, is Judge of the United States in and for Maine District and that the signature thereto purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
And I further certify that Freeman Bradford Esquire is a Magistrate duly authorized and commissioned; - that the signatures to the annexed depositions purport- ing to be his, are genuine and that full faith and credit are due his Official attestations.
In testimony of which I have hereto set my hand and affix- ed the Seal of said Court the day and year above written.
John Mussey Clerk

I Ephraim Clark of Limington in the county of York & State of Maine aged eighty seven years on the fourteenth day of May last depose testify & say that in the year 1779 I was acquainted with John McCaffery who was in the Naval service of the United States and was one of the crew of the Bonne Homme Richard commanded by John Paul Jones - my acquaintance commenced with him in Mill Prison, England, from which place we were exchanged as prisoners and arrived in France April 1779 & then shipped as seamen in the fleet then fitting out at the port of L'orient under the command of Commodore Jones. I joined the Alliance & the said McCaffery the Richard & I believe the said McCaffery was in the Richard in her engagement with the Serapis off Flamboro Head - I am not able to state the length of time said McCaffery served.
Witness Arthur M'Arthur Ephraim his  Clark beneath Clark mark
State of Maine York ss: On this twenty third day of March A. D. 1844 personally appeared Ephraim Clark above named with whom I am personally acquainted & who sustains a good character for truth & veracity and made solemn oath to the truth of above deposition by him subscribed in my presence
Before me Arthur M'Arthur Justice of the Peace

United States Marine District
Circuit Court Clerk's Office March 26. A.D. 1844
I hereby certify that Arthur McArthur Esquire is a Magistrate duly authorized and commissioned:— That the signature to the within deposition pur- porting to be his, is genuine and that full faith and credit are due his official at- testations
In testimony of which I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court the day and year just above written
John Nussey Clerk

(Arthur McArthur Justice of the Peace)

10754
Elizabeth Stanford
Mr.
act 7. July 38.
n 82 d 42!
on Roll. Bonne Homme Richard.
H. Bradford
Portland Maine

Portland March 16 th 1844
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm r of Pensions re re
I herewith forward to you my declaration for the benefit of the acts of 1838 and 1842 claiming a pension by virtue of the services of my first husband John McCaffery who was in the service in the Continental Navy in the Revolutionary War. And for the purpose of furnishing the evidence in support of my claim as set forth in the annexed declaration I have appointed Freeman Bradford of Portland my agent and Attorney for me and in my name and for my benefit to furnish such evidence as may be necessary to substantiate my claim. I therefore request that you recognize the said Bradford my agent and Attorney in the premises. Witness Levi Street
I have the honor to be Respectfully your O bt Serv t Elizabeth her X Stanford mark

May 22 nd 43
FREE
Cann
Eliz. Stuart Phelps
James L. Edwards Commission of Pensions Washington D.C.

285 3052
Washington Mar 25 1849
Sir
Will you have the goodness to grant me certified copies of the Affidavit of Ephraim Clark and the affidavit of Joshua Gammon also that of the Town Clerk of Cape Elizabeth filed in the pension office in the case of Elizabeth Stanford of Cape Elizabeth formerly the widow of John Mc Caffery, who claimed a pension under the act of 1838. The enclosed are such copies as I took at the time of the affidavits, above alluded to. They are to be used before the 1st Auditor in the claim of the Administrator of said Mc Caffery for prize money as one of the crew of John Paul Jones.
I am Very Respectfully
your obt Servt.
Freeman Bradford
Admrs etc
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Present

Portland May 18 1843
Sir - I received, this morning, Mrs Elizabeth Stansfield's certificate of Pension - & am obliged for your attention to her claim - I beg your attention a little further in Mrs Stansfield -
When she married Stansfield she was the widow of John old Coffey who was one of Paul Jones' men. She was married to Coffey July 22 nd 1782 as the Record shows - he was lost at sea, from a Merchant vessel out of this port, the same year - Coffey was a seaman under Paul Jones as she says before she married him. Do say some old people here, who knew him - I shall be much obliged if you will inform me whether she is or not entitled to a pension as the wife of Coffey or to prize money. She thinks Coffey was a long time with Jones & was in his famous action. If Jones' muster rolls can be found the time of Coffey's service will, no doubt, appear. I have the honor to be,
Wm L Edwards Comm d of Pensioners Washington
Sir, Very respectfully your obed Servt John Bradburn.

Original in the Pension Office
I Ephraim Clark of Limington in the County of York and State of Maine aged 87 years on the 14th of May last depose testify and say that in the year 1779 I was acquainted with John McCaffery who was in the Naval Service of the United States and was one of the crew of the Bon Homme Richard commanded by John Paul Jones. My acquaintance commenced with him in Mill Prison England from which place we were exchanged as prisoners and arrived in France April 1779 and then shipped as seamen in the fleet fitting out at the Port of L'Orient under the Command of Commodore Jones. I joined the Alliance and the said McCaffery the Richard and I believe the said McCaffery was in the Richard in her engagement with the Serapis off Flamboro Head. I am not able to state the length of time said McCaffery served. Ephraim his Clark mark
Witness Arthur McArthur
Asenath Clark
State of Maine York Co. On this 23 d day of March A D 1841 personally appeared Ephraim Clark above named with whom I am personally acquainted and who sustains a good character for truth and veracity and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Arthur McArthur Justice of the Peace

Copy
I do not find on searching the files and Records of this Office, that any claim was ever presented here by Elizabeth Stanford for her first husband I Mr Caffery's portion of the prize money authorized to be distributed among the crews of the men of the Bon Homme Richard and Alliance by the Act of 3 rd March 1837 but whether or not application was made by her to the Secretary of the Treasury since 1837 it is now only necessary for me to state that as the whole of said money has already been distributed under the aforesaid Act no claim to any portion of it can now be considered
1 st Auditor's Office
Dec r 19, 1844
Signed W m Collins
1 st Auditor
J. Freeman Bradford Administrator of the estate of John Mc Caffery appointed at the special request of Elizabeth Stanford his widow do certify that the original affidavits of Joshua Gammon Ephraim Gammon and Thomas Kennaford of the foregoing are copies, even filed by me in the Pension Office at Washington in 1844 and that they contain the best proof within my knowledge that John Mc Caffery who was a seaman on board the Bon Homme Richard in 1799 was the same person who married Elizabeth Stanford Freeman Bradford.

47183
First CLAIM OF Elizabeth Stanford, formerly Widow of John M c Caffery To Bounty Land.
Act of March 3, 1855.
WAR OF the Revolution
J. V. Coombs
PORTLAND,
Maine.
Present

State of Maine.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,
PORTLAND, April 4 1855.
I, OBADIAH G. COOK,
Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court,
for said County of Cumberland, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that
Nauman Bradford Esq.
is, and at the date of his Certificate to the paper hereto annexed was, an
ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
within and for _____ the County of Cumberland as appears by the paper s hereto annexed; that he is DULY COMMISSIONED and qualified to administer Oaths and take Acknowledgments of Deeds and other instruments in writing, in the County aforesaid, — and that the following Signatures s purporting to be his
are GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
O. G. Cook CLERK.

State of Maine.
County of Cumberland ss.
On this Twenty eighth day of March A. D. 1855 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Elizabeth Stanford a resident of Cape Elizabeth in said County and State, aged _____ years, who being duly sworn, doth on oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain _____ Bounty Land, under the Act of Congress passed March 3 rd, A. D. 1855.
And your declarant further states that she was formerly the widow of John M c Caffery late of Cape Elizabeth in the State of Maine that her said husband John M c Caffery  & Seaman in the War was a Soldier of the Revolution, That in the year 1776 he served about ten months under Capt. Bryant Morton of Cape Elizabeth , that after that her said husband M c Caffery was in the Naval Service under Capt. Cunningham and while cruising under that officer was captured by a British man of War, carried to England & thrown into Mill Prison as it was called, where he remained for some time when he was liberated or made his escape and went to France and entered the Naval Service under Commodore Paul Jones . She has heard her husband say that he was in the service under the said Jones 13 months. She believes that his service under Capt. Cunningham and Jones was more than two years, if the time he was in prison as aforesaid be computed.

YOUR DECLARANT FURTHER STATES , that she was married to the said John McCaffery on the 22 day of July A.D. 1782 , at Cape Elizabeth in said State, and that her name before marriage was Elizabeth Thorndike .
And your declarant further states, that after the passage of the Act of Congress of March 21, 1848 she made application for Prize Money  a Pension , on which application Prize Money  pension was granted her as the rate of widow of the said John W. Caffery per annum, as will appear by her Pension Certificate, dated John W. Caffery day of as will A.D. 18 No. as appear by papers in the Departments at Washington . She has not received Bounty Land under this or any other act of Congress, & she knows her husband John McCaffery never received Bounty Land in his life time for proof of marriage, her husband's service in the Revolutionary War, and his death, and of your declarant's identity, she refers to her declaration and proof for a Prize Money  Pension , now on file in the Department of the Interior, at Washington.
She therefore claims Bounty Land under the act aforesaid, and states that she is still a widow.
And for the purpose of this application, I hereby appoint Z. N. Harmon of Portland my true and lawful Attorney in the premises.
Attest, Signed in our presence Israel Armstrong Mary E. Armstrong Elizabeth her Stanford mark
Sworn to and subscribed, before me, the day and year first above written, and in my presence acknowledged the Power of Attorney thereto subjoined, for the purposes above mentioned. And I hereby certify that I know  believe the said Elizabeth Stanford to be the person who performed the military service aforesaid, and to be of the age above stated . She represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim. Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace.

STATE OF MAINE.
County of Cumberland ss.
On this Twenty Eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid,
Elizabeth Stanford aged Ninety one years, a resident of Cape Elizabeth in the County and State aforesaid, who, being duly sworn according to law, on oath conformably declares that she is the widow of John McLaughery deceased, who was a soldier in the Company commanded by Captain Bryant Morton in the Regiment of _____ commanded by Colonel _____
in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the eighteenth day of June, 1812.
of the Revolution. She believes that her sail husband served about ten months, in the year 1776 under Captain Morton
That he also served under Commodore at  at Port Royal in the Bay of Bona Hoosiers for the term of Richard as she set forth and continued in actual service in said war for the preservation of the Union for prime money and was honorably discharged at the secession  secession of the Admiral day of as  the  the  as  the  the  as  the  the March 21 1848 to which she refers
She further states, that she was married to the said John McLeaffery in Wife Elizabeth on the 22 nd day of July A. D. 1782 by one  Rev Ephraim Clarke a Clergyman , and that her name before her said marriage was Elizabeth Moulding ; that her said husband died at Sea on the _____ day of Dec A. D. 1782 and that she is now
a widow. She also declares that she has not received a Warrant for Bounty land, under this or

on account of the death of said deceased any other Act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor, and believes that her said husband never applied for or received Bounty land under any Act of Congress, in his life time.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty land to which she may be entitled under the Act of Congress, approved March 3d, 1855.
And for the purpose of this application, I, the said Elizabeth Stanford do hereby constitute and appoint J. N. Harmon of Cape Elizabeth in the State of Maine, my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my name, to demand and receive from the Secretary of the Interior, a warrant for the quantity of land due me as aforesaid: and I fully authorize and empower him to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purpose therein expressed, hereby ratifying and confirming whatever my Attorney or his substitutes may lawfully do in the premises.
Elizabeth Stanford Maine
We Israel Armstrong and Mary E. Armstrong residents of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath depose and say, that the foregoing declaration and Power of Attorney was signed and acknowledged by Elizabeth Stanford aforesaid in our presence, and we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, and our personal knowledge of her for many years past, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be in her declaration.
Israel Armstrong Mary E. Armstrong
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me, on the day and year first above written, by Elizabeth Stanford the declarant above named, and by Israel Armstrong and Mary E. Armstrong witnesses above named, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace.

No. 47183
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received Apr. 7, 1855.
Jus. M c Coffey Rev. War
Warrant 83/5.160-55
J. J. Crowley Present

Portland March 3 d . 1845.
Sir
I have received the opinion & decision of the Secretary of War in the case of Elizabeth Stanford.
In your report to the Secretary, you state that the second application is made for the benefit of the Act of July 4 th , 1836.
My impression has been that both claims were under the same Act, to wit the Act of 1838. for the reason that there might be doubts as to the nature of the last service of John McCaffery. As a matter of favor will you inform me, whether the proof in the case is sufficient to grant a pension under the Act of 1836, as it now stands, and if so, what amount of pay & length of service would be allowed the claimant on account of the service of John McCaffery under Capt Jones.
I am very Respectfully
Your O bt : Serv t :
F. Bradford
J. L. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

8375
160 Aug

Copy only on file Original in Pension Office
I Joshua Gammon of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland aged 82 yrs on oath depose and say that I am a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States. I served in the war of the Revolution under Capt Reed and Capt Dorrance and was in the service in the whole two years or more and was stationed in Portland Maine the most of the time. During the Revolutionary war I was acquainted with John Mc Caffery or McCaffery as his name was sometimes spelt and as it was written. He was employed in the Naval service of the U.S. in the war of the Revolution. I was well acquainted with McCaffery at that time and I recollect of his informing me that he was in the fleet commanded by Paul Jones and that he was in the engagement between the Richard and the British ship the Serapis. From the time that I first knew McCaffery till his return from the service in the Navy was about three years as near as I can recollect. Soon after his return to Cape Elizabeth which was in 1781 or 1782 he intermarried with Elizabeth Thomdike of Cape Elizabeth. I was present at the wedding. In a day or two after he was married he sailed in a letter of Marque as Boatswain. I never saw said McCaffery after this, but heard he was drowned. The circumstances of McCaffery's death were related to me by Jonah Dyer a prize master on board the letter of Marque as follows to wit: "A few days after they sailed the letter of Marque took a prize. He and others including McCaffery boarded the prize in a boat. The prize was found to be laden with crockery or china ware. McCaffery took a large quantity of it put it under his clothes which he had on at the time and then returned to his own vessel. After

he got along side Mc Caffery seized the hand ropes for the purpose of going aboard. The hand ropes not being properly fastened gave away and Mc Caffery fell between the boat and the letter of Marque and the weight of the ware that he had in his clothes carried him suddenly down. Jonah Dyer is now dead. Mc Caffery's death took place in a few weeks after his marriage. Elizabeth Mc Caffery his widow married after this John Stanford of Cape Elizabeth who is also now dead. I was well acquainted with Mrs Stanford from her youth and know that the widow of John Stanford is the identical person who married with John Mc Caffery
Signe Joshua Gammon
Cumberland ss Feby 20 th 1841 Then personally appeared the above said Joshua Gammon known to me as a man of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed Before me Freeman J Bradford Justice of Peace

I Thomas Hannaford of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland of lawful age depose and say that I am Town Clerk of Cape Elizabeth and have in my possession the records of said Town. In one of the ancient books purporting to be a record of marriages I find the following to wit.
"John McCaffery and Elizabeth Thorndike of Cape Elizabeth July twenty second, one thousand seven hundred and eighty two"
E Clark
And I certify that the above is a true copy of the record of their marriage with the exception of the date which is written in fair legible figures thus "22 d 1782"
And on the same Book I find the following thus
This may certify that Mr John Stanford and Miss Elizabeth McCaffery Both of Cape Elizabeth was lawfully married December seventh one thousand seven hundred and eighty three
At E Clark Pastor of a Church.
And I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is written in fair legible figures thus "7 th 1783"
Thomas Hannaford Town Clerk
Cumberland ss. Feby 12 1844 Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Hannaford Town Clerk as aforesaid known to me as a man of truth and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed
Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace
- a - - - - - vessel, after

Treasury Department First Auditor's Office Oct 7 th 1855
Sir,
In reply to your communication of the 27 th ult o , received this day, I have to state, that the evidence upon which the claim for Prize money was allowed to John Wilcassery, under the act of March 3 rd 1848, was the record of his name upon the original roll of the "Bon Homme Richard", on file in the Department of State.
Very Respectfully Your Ob t Servant J. L. Smith Auditor
J. Minor Esq r Commissioner of Pensions
Copy of Elizabeth Stanford, wife of John M c Caffery, Oct 5 th 1855. Revy; B. Norton.

No. 47. 183
John McCaffrey Inc.
In relation to the Bounty Fund Claim of Elizabeth Stanford for wid of John McCaffrey. Act 1855 — Me.
No. 47. 183
No Papers
Ex D. B.
Boynton
S. J. Coombs

Washington, Sept. 24, 1885.
Sir:
Your letter of the 11 th inst. in reference to the claim of Elizabeth Stanford, formerly widow of John M c Gaffey, for Bounty Land under Act of 3 rd March 1853 (No. 47, 1853) requires record evidence of the service of said John M c Gaffey.
The claimant in her declaration, avers that her husband, the said John M c Gaffey, served under Com. Paul Jones, on board the "Starhounds Richard," and that she received prize money on account of said service, under the Act of Congress of March 21, 1848.
A few days ago I called upon the Register of the Treasury, who very politely gave me the information,

That said Claimant was paid said money according to her account, and referred me to the Office of the 1 st Auditor of the Treasury, where said account was audited, for evidence of said service, from the rolls of said Dept.
This morning I called at the Office of the 1 st Auditor, but the Chief Clerk refused to give me any information whatever upon the subject, alleging that it was contrary to the rules of the Department to do so.
If the record evidence of said McCaffrey's service is in the possession of the Government, there ought to be some means by which the Claimant can avail herself of it.

Perhaps if you would apply to the 1 st Auditor, he would examine said rolls, and give a certificate of the evidence they afford in relation to Mr Coffey's service.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your obed servt
J. J. Coombs
How I think Court of Sessions

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston. October 18 th 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of John McCaffey is borne on pay roll of Capt Briant Morton's Company stationed on the Coast of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough from Feby. 5 th to Nov. 25. 1776 as private.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Thos M c Lovell Secretary of the Commonwealth.

To the Secretary of State Mass: The undersigned formerly the widow of John Mc Caffery makes application for the Evidence of said Mc Caffery in the war of the Revolution.
She states that her said husband John Mc Caffery was a resident of Cape Elizabeth in the time of the Revolution that he en- tered the service at that place in the month of February 1776 and was in actual military service for a period of more than nine months and was honorably discharged. That he served in the company of Capt. Bryant Morton as was stationed at or near Elizabeth for the defence of the sea coast. She further states that her said husband was a seaman on board the Bon Homme Richard and that she obtained Pensions money a few years ago. She wishes for the Evidence of service to enable her to obtain Benefit Said Elizabeth her X Stanford Cumberland Gs Octo 16 1855 Signed by the abovenamed Elizabeth Stanford in my presence
J. H. Harmon J. P. Pease

47183
Additional Evidence in Sus: Bounty land Claim of Elizabeth Stanford formerly widow of John McCaffery Act of March 3, 1853 War of the Rev.
Maine
No Papers
Boynton
8375
16075
J. H. Coombs
Present
John McCaffery & Elizabeth Stanford

State of Maine.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,
PORTLAND, Octo 19 th 1855. }
I, OBADIAH G. COOK,
Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court,
for said County of Cumberland, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that
Freeman Bradford Esq.
is, and at the date of his Certificate to the paper hereto annexed was, an
ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
within and for
the County of Cumberland
as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY COMMISSIONED and qualified to administer Oaths and take Acknowledgments of Deeds and other instruments in writing, in the County aforesaid — and that the following Signature , purporting to be his
LS
GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
O. Cook
CLERK.

State of Maine County of Cumberland Town of Cape Elizabeth (a) Mr John Mc Caffery and Miss Elizabeth Thornike both of Cape Elizabeth were married on the Twenty second day of July in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, by the Rev: Ephraim Clark of Cape Elizabeth
I Certify that the above is a true copy of the record of the Marriage of said parties, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record, in fair legible figures, as follows:— (b)
July 22 d 1782,
John Gickett Town Clerk of Cape Elizabeth
I, John Gickett above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town, county, and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy of the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
John Gickett } Clerk of the Town } of Cape Elizabeth
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this Twenty first day of April A. D. 185 5
Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace.
(a) Here fill in an exact transcript of the record, except that, instead of copying the figures, the date must be written out in full.
(b) Here give the date exactly as it is in the record.

Prof. Mc Caffery, was paid $216.1.11. in account seventy five years

Dept of State, Washington, Oct. 9. 1855
Sir,
In reply to your note of the 3 rd instant, which came to hand this morning, I have to inform you, that the name of John Mc Caffery appears on the crew list of the ship "Bonhomme Richard" under command of Paul Jones, but no document can be found from which the length of his term of service can be ascertained.
I am respectfully your obedt. Servant
W. J. Hunter, Assistant Secretary
Hon. J. Minot Comt. of Pensions
Thr. Off: Oct: 13 1855.
I have made a personal examination of the above rolls find Mc Caffery was paid $ 216, 1. 11. for 12 Year without doubt. in this opinion Mr. Chapman concurs. Mc Caffery was an American but the crew list was made out in France.
R R per Mr.

8868
all. 1843
one
July 7. 1838
Eliz Stuart
on rolls
FREE
John L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Portana April 5 1843
Sir - I enclose the application of Elizabeth Stanford, widow of John Stanford deceased a Pensioner, for a pension & believe I have taken all the testimony your rules require. - Mrs Stanford, when she married Stanford was the widow of one John M c Caffery who had served in the Revolutionary War & was with Paul Jones in his famous engagement. He was lost on board from a merchant brig out of this place in 1782. & I would respectfully enquire whether his widow, who is the present widow Stanford, can not receive the said money due on account of Cafferys services. And whether she is not entitled to a pension for said services?
I have the honor to be Sir, Very respectfully, Yours obediently John Anderson
Hon Jas. S. Edwards Comm r of Pensions Washington