Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 15077, for Timothy Meriam, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Meriam, Timothy or Merriam
W 15077
Huldah
CONTENTS

2184
Massachusetts
Timothy Merriam
of Framingham in the State of Massachusetts who was a Priv & Corp in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Regt commanded by Col Whitney in the Massachusetts line for 14 1/2 months private and 9 1/2 months Corporal
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 84 Dollars 81 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Novem- ber 1832 - and deliv'd to Mr Folsome of Worcester, Mass. Present
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1832 — $127.21 1/4
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 42.40 1/4
$169.62
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. C. Miles Clerk, Book D Vol. 2 Page 67
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 for 4 Sept 1833 to 17. Sept 1835 the day of his death. Agent Notified 18 Sept 1835.
85

1190
Massachusetts Hulda Merriam widow of Timothy Merriam dec d ?
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 17 th September 1833 of Middlesex in the State of MS. who was a P t Corp l in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Reg t commanded by C l M c Culney in the MS. line for 14 1/2 mos private 9 1/2 " Corporal
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. a at the rate of 84 Dollars 87 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of Nov. 1838 and sent L. W. Stone Boston MS.
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept 1835 $212.02 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar. 39, 42.40
254.42
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by W. Addison Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 1st Page 106

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Middlesex COUNTY OF Worcester , ss.
ON this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty - two personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. S. P. P. Fay, Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting, Dr. Timothy Merriam, a resident of Framingham, in the County of Middlesex , and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy four 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 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 he, the abovenamed Timothy Merriam , was born on the twenty ninth day of September, A.D. 1757, at Concord, County & Commonwealth aforesaid, as appears by the Records of said town, where he resided until twenty four years of age, when he removed, & settled as a physician in Brethlehem , (County of Norfolk); thence he removed to the adjoining town of Franklin . After a residence of three years in those towns he removed to Framingham aforesaid, where he has resided until the present time. That early on the morning of April nineteenth, A.D. 1775, he was informed of the approach of a British force to Concord, when he forthwith hastened to give the alarm to the inhabitants in the east part of that town & in the adjoining town of Bedford , before daylight joined the ranks of his Company at Concord. That he was engaged the same morning in the battle at Concord bridge, in the pursuit of the enemy on their return to Boston, during which he assisted in destroying several of their number. That early in March, A.D. 1776, he proceeded to Roxbury, & entered the Company of Capt. Abisha Brown , Regiment of Col. Josiah Whitney , Mass. Line, served a term of seven months at Nantasket island , during which term of service he was in a party of twenty five men who boarded from a boat a British vessel bound to Boston with provisions, & captured her. The cargo became a prize to the Regiment to which he belonged. That he was discharged November 27, 1776, returned to Concord. That sometime after, he joined at Concord the company of Capt. Isaac Woods , stationed at that place for the protection of the public stores, served in the same as a Corporal a term of about ten months, and in proof of this service he produces the evidence of two of his fellow soldiers, whose depositions are annexed to this declaration. That in June, A.D. 1778, he again enlisted at Concord under Capt. Richardson , & proceeded to White Plains , where his company was attached to the Regiment of Col. Poor ; there the regiment was marched to West Point where performed fatigue duty several months. That he was afterwards detached with sixty three others "to go down on the lines," & watch the enemy, & was absent on this service eight days. That on passing muster before going on this service, his gun was condemned, on account of the smallness of its bore, and a musket piece was given him in exchange, in consideration of which ten dollars were deducted from his wages, a like sum being worth two such musket pieces." That he served eight months at White Plains . He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Timothy Merriam.
S. P. P. Fay  Robt

We  a Clergyman residing in the  and residing in  hereby certify that we are well acquainted with  who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be  years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Artemas B. Muzzey , who signed the proceeding  annexed certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Framingham , and that Jonathan Wainward , who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town , and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
led to credit. J. P. Fay  W. B. Cook
I Isaac Iske Register or , Clerk of the Court of Probate in & for said county of Middlesex , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George H. Merriam for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Seventeenth day of August — in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two
I also certify that Sarah Adams Esq and Nathan Brooks Esq whose own proper signatures are set to the certificate to the Depositors here to annexed are Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Middlesex —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seven tenth day of August A D 1832 Scott Fiske
Scrauske

1331.
Hulda Mersham
admitted
Pr & Cape. $84. 81 / 100
property of Mrs. M.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows,"
State of Massachusetts, } County of Middlesex } ss
On this fourth day of September A D. eighteen hundred & thirty eight personally appeared before the Hon. Saml P. P. May Judge of the Court of Probate for said County personally appeared before the same being a Court of Record of the Huldah Merriam a resident of Framingham in the county of Middlesex aged seventy two 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 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of Timothy Merriam who was a* Private and Corporal in the War of the Revolution and a Pensioner of the United States under the Act of 7 th June 1832 at Eighty four 81/100 Dollars per annum which sum he received from the 21 st day of March 1831. until the 21 st of September 1833.
She further declared that her maiden name was Huldah Darling and she is the widow of Timothy Merriam a pensioner as above stated.
She further declares that she was married to the said Timothy Merriam on the thirtieth day of June in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty five; that her husband, the aforesaid Timothy Merriam died on the Seventeenth day of September eighteen hundred & thirty three that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz. : at the time above stated.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, in open Court.
S. P. P. May Judge of Probate Huldah Merriam
* Here insert the rank the husband held in the army, navy, or militia, as the case may be, and specify the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County ss.
I Isaac Huske Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Samuel P. May Esq. is the Judge of said Court duly commissioned & qualified & that his signature whereunto written is his genuine signature
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Isaac Huske Reg
1838

I do hereby certify that Timothy Merriam, son of Josiah Merriam of Concord, and Huldah Darling, daughter of Job Darling of Cumberland were lawfully joined together in Marriage on the thirtieth day of June One Thousand, Seven hundred and eighty five - By me Abner Wallen Elder Recorded July twelfth one thousand seven hundred and eighty five Witness John Dater Town Clerk
I Darden Sayles Town Clerk of the Town of Cum- berland, county of Providence & State of Rhode Island hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Records with the exception of the date, which is ex- pressed on the Records in fair legible figures as follows - 30 th day of June 1785 - Recorded July 12 th 1785 -
Attest. Darden Sayles Town Clerk
I Darden Sayles above named do hereby certify that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the Town of Cum- berland, county and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said Town with the exceptions above named as certified by me - Darden Sayles T. Clerk

Providence p. 3 in & returned August the sixth Eighteen hundred and thirty eight. Then personally appeared Daniel Sayles Town clerk of said borough and was duly sworn to the within certificate according to Law - Before me Dan A. Daniels Public Notary
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. Providence Sc. I, John W. Smith clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County of Providence, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Dan A. Daniels Esquire is a Public Notary for the County of Providence aforesaid; that by law he is duly authorized and qualified to administer oaths, and take depositions; and that the above signature, purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of said Dan A. Daniels.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, & affix the Seal of our said Court, at the City of Providence, this sixteenth day of August A 1838.
John W. Smith Clerk

I Nat Fisk of Framingham in the County of Middlesex do hereby testify & say that Timothy Morrison of Concord in said County was reputed to be married to Huldah Darling of Rhode Island state about the year seven-teen hundred & eighty five. They lived together as man & wife, on a farm adjoining my father's in Framingham, from about the year seventeen hundred & ninety, till the time of his death, which was in the month of September in the year eighteen hundred & thirty three - When they came to Framingham their eldest child was about four years old. Job Darling, the father of said Huldah came to Framingham a short time after and lived there till the time of his death - said Huldah is the same person that is now the widow of said Timothy, having never been again married, & said Timothy is the same person who is reputed to have obtained a pension a short time before his death
Nat Fisk
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. August 10. 1838. Personally came before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for said County, Nat Fisk Esq. & subscribed the above affidavit, & made oath that the same is true. & I do hereby certify that said Fisk has been long personally known to me as a man of truth. Josiah Adams Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. I Elias Priney Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the County of Middlesex do certify that Josiah Adams Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex, and that his name subscribed to the within cer- tificate is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court - the 22 d day of August 1838.
E. Priney. Clk

War Department.
PENSION OFFICE, JULY 17, 1838.
The following rules, prescribed by the President of the United States, and adopted by the Secretary of War, in order to carry into effect the Act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," are published for the information of applicants under that law:—
1. Applicants must produce the best proof the nature of the case will allow, as to the service of the deceased officer or soldier, and the time when he died. It must be clearly shown in what troop or company, and regiment or corps, he served, and the grade he held. Proof, as to service, must be had, either from the records of the War Department, the muster rolls, the testimony of commissioned officers, or the affidavits of persons of known respectability. Every applicant will make a declaration according to the subjoined form, before a court of record, setting forth, according to the best of her knowledge or belief, the name and rank of the person on account of whose service the claim is presented; the day, month, and year, (if possible,) when he entered the service, and the time when he left the same; and, if under more than one engagement, the claimant must specify the particular periods, and the rank and names of the officers under whom the service was performed; the town or county, and state in which he resided when he entered the service; whether he was drafted, was a volunteer, or substitute; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged; the country through which he marched, with such further particulars as may be useful in the investigation of the claim; and, also, if the fact be so, that the claimant has no documentary evidence in support of the claim. From the best sources of information, evidence must be derived as to the period of the death of the officer or soldier.
2. The legality of the marriage, and the time when it took place, must be clearly established; and it must also be shown that the widow was never afterwards married. Record proof, as to the marriage is always required, whenever it can be obtained. In a case where the town, county, parish, church, or family records afford no proof as to the period when the marriage took place, the fact must be established by the testimony of one or more respectable persons, whose credibility must be certified by the officer who may administer the oath. And, in order to prevent any mistake or improper use that may be made of the affidavit of an officer who may have the custody of records, from which he may make transcripts of the record, in relation to a marriage, the officer who may give his affidavit will, instead of copying the figures contained in the record, certify "that it is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows:" [Here copy the day, month, and year, in letters and figures, in exact conformity with the original. Then let him add the following words:]
"I, A. B., above named, depose and say, that I hold the office _____ in the county, town and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said _____ with the exception above named, as certified by me."
A. B., Clerk of the
(or rector, or pastor, as the case may be.)
Sworn before me, C. D., Justice of the Peace.
And then will follow the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, as to the official character and signature of the magistrate who may administer the oath. Where no record proof exists, other than the family record, the original record must be produced and sworn to by the person in whose possession it has been kept.
3. In a case where the service of deceased officer or soldier is clearly proved by record or documentary evidence, or the affidavit of a commissioned officer, showing the grade or length of service of the deceased, the particulars in relation to the service are not required to be set forth in the claimant's declaration; but she must swear, in positive terms, that she is the widow of the person whose service is thus proved. And no claim whatever can be sustained without positive proof of service.
4. In every case in which the deceased officer or soldier was a pensioner, the fact should be so stated, and the deceased pensioner so described, as to enable the Department to refer immediately to the evidence upon which he was pensioned, and thus facilitate the investigation of the claim of the widow.
5. Applicants, unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, before a judge or justice of a court of record of the county in which the applicant resides, and the judge or justice will certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.
6. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a judge or justice of a court of record, or by a justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State, or of the Territory, or of the proper officer or clerk of the court or county, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such a person is a judge, or justice of a court of record, or a justice of the peace, and that the signature annexed, is his genuine signature.
7. The widows of those who served in the navy, or as Indian spies, will produce proof, as nearly as may be, conformably to the preceding regulations, and authenticated in a similar manner, with such variations as the different nature of the service may require.
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
AN ACT
Granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and for other purposes.
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That if any person who served in the war of the revolution, in the manner specified in the act passed the seventh day of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, entitled "An act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution," have died leaving a widow, whose marriage took place after the expiration of the last period of his service, and before the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, such widow shall be entitled to receive, for and during the term of five years, from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, the annuity or pension which might have been allowed to her husband in virtue of said act, if living at the time it was passed: Provided , That in the event of the marriage of such widow, said annuity or pension shall be discontinued.
SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That no pledge, mortgage, sale, assignment, or transfer of any right, claim or interest, in any
annuity, half-pay, or pension granted by this act shall be valid, nor shall the half-pay, annuity, or pension, granted by this act, or any former act of Congress, be liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any process in law or equity, but shall enure wholly to the personal benefit of the pensioner or annuitant entitled to the same; and that before a warrant shall be delivered to any person acting for, or in behalf of, any one entitled to money under this act, such person shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation, to be administered by the proper accounting officer, and put on file, that he has no interest in said money by any pledge, mortgage, transfer, agreement, understanding, or arrangement, and that he does not know or believe that the same has been so disposed of to any other person.
SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War shall adopt such regulations and forms of evidence in relation to applications and payments under this act, as the President of the United States may prescribe.

Rey
WIDOW, &c.
File No.
15077
Hulda Merriam
Widow of
Timothy Merriam
Corp. Rev. War
Act:
July 7 th 1858
Index:—Vol.
M
Page
43
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Maps.
Timothy Merriam P. & Capt. #84. 81 Oct 7 June 32 to what time paid?
Dec 17 Sept. 1833/5%
Rev: Office
What period
Nov 20. 1838
0/4

Boston, 1 st Sept. 1838.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose herewith the application of Mrs. Huldah Merriam for a Pension under the Act of 7 th July 1838.
I am, sir, very respf. Your Abt. Servt. A. M. Stone
J. C. Edwards Esq. Com t of Pensions Washington. D.C.

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
September 15 th 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The widow of Timothy Merriam deceased a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eighty four Dollars and eighty one Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1833 to the 17 th Sept. 1833, the day of his death
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

I John Richardson of Newton, in the county of Middlesex & Common wealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify & say That I was in the service of the United States in 1778 in a company commanded by Capt Edward Richardson in the Regiment commanded by Col' Poor That Dr Timothy Meriam of Framingham was with me, our services were rendered on West point, White Plains & Kings Ferry on the north River the time of service I cannot now ascertain as I have no documents not less than eight months, nor more than one Year, we were discharged in the Spring of the Year 1779 -
John Richardson
Middlesex p. Aug. 22 o 1832. Personally appeared John Richardson & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him subscribed
Before me J. Richardson. Jas. Pease

Dr. Merriam.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. I. Elias Thibney Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for said County of Middlesex, do certify, that John H. Richardson Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County, and that I believe his name set to the aforesaid annexed certificate is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and af- fixed the seal of said Court the thirty first day of August. 1832.
E. Thibney.

We Artemas B. Murray of Framingham in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, an ordained Clergyman in said town, and Jonathan Maynard an inhabitant of said Fram- ingham & both resident therein, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Timothy Merriam also of said Framingham, who proposes to apply for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7. A.D. 1832; — that we believe him to be now seventy four years of age; that he is respected & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revo- -lution, & that we concur in that opinion Artemas B. Murray Jonathan Maynard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Middlesex ss. August 14. 1832. Personally ap- peared the Rev. Artemas B. Murray & the Hon. Jona- than Maynard, & subscribed the foregoing certifi- -cate & made oath that the same is true
Before me Josiah Adams Justice of the peace

I, Simon Wheeler, of Concord, County of Middle- sex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being eighty years of age, do testify, that I am well acquainted with Timothy Merriam, Physician, now of Ha- vingham, formerly of Concord, and that I served with him in the Company commanded by Capt Isaac Woods, Regiment of Col. Peirce, stationed at Concord for the protection of the public stores. That said Merriam joined the said Company during the summer of the year seventeen hundred seventy  seventy seven , and was a corporal in the same, and when I left the company for other service, in the latter part of the same year, the said Merriam remained, and I have reason to believe he served in said Company a term of ten months. And further Your deponent saith not. Simon his mark Wheeler.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Middlesex ss. Concord. August 18 th 1832 - Then the above named Simon Wheeler, who I believe is entitled to credit, personally appeared and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true -
Before me Nathan Mookd Jus. of the Peace

I Levi Sawin of Dover in the County of Norfolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman, do testify & say that I was a pri- vate soldier stationed in the war with Great Britain during the Revolution & was station ed at Concord in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth aforesaid; Timothy Merriam now of Framingham in said County of Middlesex was Physician; was at the same time a Corporal in the same Company (I think about four weeks six months) & as such had the command of the guard - I believe he continued in that office during my time of service there, which was six months -
Levi Sawin
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. July 10. 1832. Then Levi Sawin personally appeared & subscribed the foregoing affidavit & made oath that the same is true before me
Josiah Adams } Justice of the Peace of the Quorum