Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16957, for Daniel Merrill, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 16
Merrill Daniel or Merril
S. 16957
CONTENTS
cont

4539.
New Hampshire
Daniel Merrill
of Hillsboro in the State of N H who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the reg t commanded by Col Nichols in the N H line for 7 Mos 11 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 24 Dollars 52 1/2 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of Jan'y 1833, and due to her Dana Grooton (widow)
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $36 81 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar 33. 12 27
$49 08
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk Book D. Vol. 1 st Page 170.

State of New Hampshire
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hillsborough AD 1832.
On this twenty-seventh day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate
Amherst within and for the County of Hillsborough in the Commonwealth of New Hampshire
Daniel Merrill aged seventy one years
Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
1 st About the first of August Anno Domini 1778. a company of sixty men commanded by Capt. Daniel Emerson, Lt. Caleb Farley, attached to Col. Moses Nichols Regiment, marched from Hollis N.H. to Rhode Island to support Gen. Sullivan, and arrived in his camp at Rhode Island, where we remained on duty until we were dismissed having served one month
2 nd The forepart of July A.D. 1780 he enlisted to go to West Point for three months, his Capt was William Baers of Merrimack Lt. Eben Jewett of Hollis, Ensign Hardy of Nottingham West, and his company was in Col. Moses Nichols Regiment he repaired to West Point, having been mustered by Col. Peabody, and then remained on Robinsons farm in Gen. Arnolds life guard, till Arnold deserted, and he returned to West Point again, and served out his term of three months & returned home -
3 rd In the month of Sept. A.D. 1781 he enlisted again to go to West Point for three months, having arrived nearly at West Point, he received orders to go to Springfield Ms, when his regiment was ordered to Charleston (So.) in N. Hampshire & the whole regiment except two companies, Capt. Mills & Capt. Heady, were ordered to the Northern forts on a scout, where they were gone about seven weeks, but he remained at (So.) with Capt. Mills & others until his term expired, he did not go on the scout but stated to Col. Runnells that he had travelled more than any other soldier, and he was permitted to remain with Capt. Mills, at Charleston, on this tour, he was in Mills Company, Lt. William Brooks of Hollis & he belonged to the Regiment of Col. Runnells of Londonderry having served three months
He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not, on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, the day and year aforesaid Sworn to and subscribed
John Packer Judge of Probate Daniel Merrill
Eli Smith a Clergyman residing in the town of Hollis in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire
the same Eli Smith hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Daniel Merrill who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy one years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
Eli Smith
Before me Bury J. Pool Justice Peace Joseph H. Weston

And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that The Rev. Eli Smith who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Hollis , and that M c Gehee  the undersigned  of said Hollis  has signed the same and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Richard Parker Judge of Probate. I Charles H. Atherton  Registrar Clerk of the Court of Probate for the County of Hillsborough before me and do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Daniel Merrill for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirteenth day of Sept r in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
C. H. Atherton Registrar

Declaration of No. 1 Daniel Merrill.
agent's name
This Case contains three papers No. 1. 2. 3 —
11936
Please to place me on the Nat l . Agency & send my Deeds to my Agent Sam. D. Wash Gaston Mo

State of New Hampshire
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hillsborough
Middlesex , to wit,
At the Court of
Probate
begun and holden at
Amherst
within and for the County of
Hillsborough
on the
twenty seventh
day of
August
A. D. 1832
On the application of
Daniel Merrill
claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following
Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1 Where, and in what year, were you born  born ?
Answer,
I was born at Nottingham West, in New Hamp s on the 31 st day of March A.D. 1761.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,
I have nothing  nothing record
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since  lived since , the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer,
I was living in Hales at that time, and have always, and now do, live in Hales.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Answer,
I was always a Volunteer, and went into service upon my own motion.
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer,
During my service I was in Genl. Arnold's Light Guard, I saw Genl. Sullivan at Rhode Island and I saw Washington when I was stationed on Potomac's farm near Great Falls, and many others but I recollect but few, except my own acquaintances.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer,
Benj a M c Farley Esq r , Benj a Pool Esq r , M c Jere Winsten and Doctor Noah Hardy
7 Did you ever receive a discharge from service? Answer I never rec d . any discharge from service.
Daniel Merrill
attest C. H. Hutton Clerk

11,936
Dan Merrill
Providence
7 Mar + 11 days
116.6
at
New Hampshire
Roll
$24.54 -
Dan Dana Groton Hill Miss H. H.

11,936
BRIEF in the case of Daniel Merrill of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 71  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Augt '78 1 25 private Capt Emerson — Col. Nichols   July '80 03 16 " Capt Bains — do   Sept '81 3 " Capt. Mills — Col. Peabody   X per Roll of service Col. Runnells   0 do do  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Heale 
Witnesses, by documentary by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Living Witnesses
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The affidavits have not a clerk's seal to authenticate the Magistrate's signature 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W.B. Eastman Examining Clerk.

16957 INVALID.
File No. 16957
Daniel Merrill
Pr. Rev. Mass
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 253
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Affidavit of N o 3 Jesse Worcester in the case of David Merrill

I Jesse Worcester of Holles in the State of New Hampshire Do test- ify and say that I was in the Campaign of one month to Rhode- Island Oct 1778 as well more fully appear by my declaration on file in the Office of the War Department — And I well know that Daniel Merrill of the same Holles was a Soldier in the same Company with me and there also remained one month. —
Jesse Worcester
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. July 25 th 1832
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace, within and for all the Counties in said Commonwealth Jesse Worcester of Holles who subscribed the annexed Deposition
and made solemn Oath, that the same is just and true in all its particulars according to the best of his knowledge and belief
Sam d Dana

Affidavit of N o 2 Stephen Dow in the case of
Daniel Merrill

I Stephen Dow aged seventy four do depose and say that I served that in the war of the revolution, and was at West Point in the year A.D. 1780 as will appear by my declaration, on file in the office of the secretary of war.
And I further testify that I well know Daniel Merrill of Holles who is my Brother in Law and know that he served three months in a Campaign at Westpoint in the Company of Capt. Burns in Col. Nichols Regiment in which I also served in 1780 —
And I further testify that I know that said Merrill enlisted next year for three months, in the Company of Capt. Mills Lt. Col. Brooks — Colonel Paymaster Genl of Deerstale, but I know that he was absent that summer, but I was not out that Campaign —
Stephen Dow

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. July 25. 1832
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace, within and for all the Counties in said Commonwealth Stephen Dowdell known to me as a person deserving credit & who subscribed the annexed Deposition
and made solemn Oath that the same is just and true in all its particulars according to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sam. Dana

11,936
Dane Merrill
Same Dana Grotto NH

100554_000520 BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Daniel Merrill which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [Handwritten flourish] IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service ?
Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?
[Handwritten line]
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ?
[Handwritten line]
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service ?
Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ?
[Handwritten line]
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades : For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
‡QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.