Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33093, for John Melzard, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental P. I.
Melgard John.
S 33093
CONTENTS

Massachusetts Roll - 1866
John Melick Capt Olney's privates Rhode Island line 1775. 15 months In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 23 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of July 1818 and sent to Hon Sam Hutton Salem. Mass -
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1 st 1818 Semi-annual account ending 4 mo 12/30 - $ 35.20
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Died May 4, 1834
Marblehead, Essex Continued
Whitaker and Son 1820 1/2 Schubert Stocker Salem Mass.

John Melzard
23/7/92
(R. S.) Not on Rolls ditto
adm 3

Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, That I John Melzard of Marblehead in the County of Essex, in the Commonwealth aforesaid, doth make upon oath the following DECLARATION , to wit,
That I the said John Melzard was a Soldier in the American Revolutionary War and in the Month of November A.D. Seventeen hundred & seventy five I enlisted in Capt Jeremiah Olney's Company Daniel Kitchcock Col d in the eleventh Regiment of the Rhode Island Line and went to Cambridge and from thence March'd to New York and thence to Long Island, and continued in the service until the first day of February A.D. Seventeen hundred & seventy seven when I was Honourably discharged.
That I this Declarant received a written certificate of my Discharge and that I have lost the same by time and Accident and that I am Sixty Seven years old.
The declarant was in the Battle at Long Island at Harlem heights - at white plains - and at Princeton -
S S S
That the Declarant is infirm; that from his reduced circumstances in life he is now in need of assistance from his country for support; and that he hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States.
John Melzard

AFFIDAVIT.
I Philip Hooker of Marblehead in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, fisherman — do on oath depose and testify,
That I was in the American Revolutionary war, and in the year Seventeen hundred & seventy Six, I belonged to Col. Kitchens Regiment in the Rhode Island Line, and I well knew the within named John Melnard, and that he served in Capt. Olney company belonging to said Regiment, and that he served the whole of the time mentioned in his Declaration
Phillip Hooker
Essex ss. Apr. 23. 1818
I Schabou Tucker Clerk of all the Judicial Courts for the said Commonwealth in the County of Essex do certify that the said Samuel Putnam is a Judge of the said Supreme Judicial Court — that his signature herein is his hand writing — and that the seal of said Court is hereto affixed
Attest Schabou Tucker

ADDITIONAL
PROOF.
I, John Wooldredge of Mare Island in the County of ESSEX, in the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Mare Island do on solemn oath testify and depose, as follows:—
That John Wooldredge , who subscribed the annexed Declaration enlisted as a Soldier in the American Revolutionary War in the month of November 1775 in Capt. Jeremiah Olney's Company, Col. Titcomb's Regt. of the Rhode Island Line, upon the Continental Continent, and that he continued in the service until the month of February 1777, and I know that he was in the Battles at Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains & Princeton, and that he was honorably discharged near Morris Town in New Jersey.
John Wooldredge
On this 9th June 24. 1818 Then John Wooldredge personally subscribed and made solemn oath to the above written affidavit.
Before me Ralph M. French Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
I, SAMUEL PUTNAM, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby certify, that the aforesaid Deponents, Phillip Fisher & John Woodbridge
are credible and disinterested witnesses; and that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant served in the Revolutionary Army on the continental establishment against the common enemy more than nine months at one period of continued service; and I further certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant is in reduced circumstances in life, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 30 th day of June Anno Domini 1818.
S Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass s
I, Ichabod Tucker , Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid, do certify, that the Hon. Samuel Putnam is a Judge of said Court, that the above is his signature, that the seal affixed is the seal of said Court, that the within named Ralph H. French Esq. who has certified the aforesaid depositions, is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, duly empowered and qualified to administer oaths.
Ichabod Tucker Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
On this twenty Third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me Samuel Putnam
one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial of the Commonwealth aforesaid
the aforesaid John Melnard & Philip Hooker and in my presence severally subscribed and made solemn oath to the aforesaid Declaration and AFFIDAVIT , by them respectively made as aforesaid:—And it appearing to my satisfaction, that the aforesaid John Melnard served more than NINE MONTHS , to wit, from the 8 th day of Nov r A. D. 1775 - to the 14 th day of Jan y . A. D. 1777 at one period of the Revolutionary War, on the Continental Establishment, against the common enemy, I do hereby cer- tify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of War.
Given under my hand, and the seal of the Court a- foresaid, at Salem , this twenty Third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass s }

1866.
John Melzard
July 1818
cont. 25/6
1820
Con
on this the seal of the said Court at Sheriffs in said County of Essex is to certify whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
any evidence in the said cause is hereby the seal of the said Court the seal whereof is hereunto from the record of the said Court and I do further certify that it is after the true and just form and substance thereof as the same is J. KENNY Clerk of the said Court to hereby certify
and seal the same as the same is now before me Then the same was
the seal of the said Court at Sheriffs in said County of Essex is to certify whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed any evidence in the said cause is hereby the seal of the said Court the seal whereof is hereunto from the record of the said Court and I do further certify that it is after the true and just form and substance thereof as the same is J. KENNY Clerk of the said Court to hereby certify

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Melzard resident in Marblehead in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1866 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, John Melzard late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 23rd day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
No property either Real or personal, excepting the following articles of Household furniture 1 Old Walnut Case of Drawers $5 8 Flag-bottom chairs $2 $7.00 1 Iron pot $1. 1 do Kettle, 50cts Crockery ware broken $1.50 3.00 6 Old knives & forks, 50cts 3 Empty casks $3. 3.50 Whole amount of property $13.50 He is seventy years old, by Occupation a Fisherman Has a wife aged sixty eight years & infirm. He entered the service in November 1775 in Col. Hitchcock's Regt and served until the first day of February 1777 and was in the Battle on Long Island, Harlem Heights, Rattle Snake hill, White Plains & at the taking of Princeton. And was discharged at Morris Town.
John Melzard.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Minot , a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, John Melzard do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
John Melzard
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed John Melzard took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me
Stephen Minot
Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
thirteen dollars fifty cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July A. D.
1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

17-772 Washington Gardner Commissioner. Bureau of Pensions. Washington D.C.
Grace McFarlin Zuber (Mrs. Charles E.) 378 Haverhill St. Lawrence Mass. June 21, 1923.
Mr. Gardner, Dear Sir:
At the Probate Court House in Salem Massachusetts I find that John Melzard and Susannah Martin were married Sept. 24, 1772. and that he was a pensioner under the law of the United States passed Mar. 18, 1818. and that he was entitled to and did receive $8.00 per mo. and that he died May 4, 1834.
Can you give me the date of his birth, and the names and dates of birth, marriage, and death of his parents?
The Mass. Soldiers and Sailors. Vol. 10 p. 627. gives record of service as follows;
"John Melzard, seaman, brigantine "Massachusetts" commanded by Capt. John Fisk; engaged Mar. 7, 1777. discharged July 31, 1777. service 4mo. 24 dys. roll dated Boston; also pay roll for same service dated Salem, also same vessel and Commander; engaged July 31, 1777. dis. Oct. 16, 1777. roll dated Boston. Also descriptive list of officers and crew of ship "Thorn" commanded by Capt. Richard Crowell, sworn to at Marblehead Sept. 14, 1780. Stature 5 ft. 9in. complexion dark."
The data which I am asking for will help me to complete my papers of application to membership to the D.A.R.
Yours very truly,
Grace McFarlin Zuber (Mrs. Charles E. Zuber)

August 11, 1932
RA-J/MSF:MLB XXXXXXXXXXXX JOHN MELZARD S. 55055
Honorable Edith Nourse Rogers Member of Congress Lowell, Massachusetts
My dear Mrs. Rogers:
his letter Feb. 20 Mrs. Rogers Reference is made to your letter of August 9, addressed to Dr. Alfred D. Wilkinson, in behalf of H. E. Melzar, of Wilmington, Massachusetts, whose letter is attached, all of which correspondence has been referred to the Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section for reply.
It is noted that Mr. Melzar is interested in the Revolutionary War records of John and Peter Melzard who rendered naval service during the Revolutionary War.
A search of the records has been made and no claim for pension or bounty land has been found based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Peter Melzard. The record of only one John Melzard has been found. Various spellings of the surname have been searched. Pension and bounty land claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.
The data contained herein are obtained from papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 55055, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of John Melzard.
John Melzard enlisted, name of place not stated, in November, 1775, served as private in Captain Jeremiah Olney's company, Colonel Daniel Hitchcock's Rhode Island regiment, was in the battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Battle Snake Hill, White Plains and Princeton and was discharged February 1, 1777. It is not stated that he rendered any sea service during the Revolutionary War.

John Melzard was allowed pension on his application executed April 23, 1818, at which time he was aged about sixty-seven years and a resident of Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts. His occupation was fisherman.
In 1820 soldier stated that his wife was aged sixty-eight years, but did not give her name. There is no reference to children and no further information in regard to his family.
John Melzard died May 4, 1834, name of place not given.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of person paid, Mr. Melzar should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data: John Melzard, Certificate No. 1866, issued July 16, 1818, rate $8 per month, commenced April 23, 1818, Act March 18, 1818, Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

33 093 Rev INVALID.
File No. 33,093
John Melzard His Rev. Rev
Act: 18 th March 1818 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1923 July 31 Hist to Mrs C.E. Zuker 1932 Aug 11- Street 6- Now Edith Muriel Rogers 1932 Jan 11- Mrs F.E. Melzard

EDITH NOURSE ROGERS 5TH DISTRICT MASSACHUSETTS
Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
3
Lowell, Mass. August 9, 1932.
Dr. Alfred D. Wilkinson, Pension Bureau, Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
My dear Dr. Wilkinson:
Will you kindly advise me if this matter comes under your jurisdiction, if not will you please refer it to the proper department for action. I shall very much appreciate your kindness in the matter.
With kind regards and best wishes,
I am
Yours very sincerely,
(Mrs. John Jacob Rogers)
Edith Nourse Rogers
Please return Mr. Melzar's letter with your letter to me. E.N.R.

August 10, 1932
18
Honorable Edith Bourse Rogers, Member of Congress, Lowell, Massachusetts.
My dear Mrs. Rogers:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of August 9, 1932, transmitting communication dated August 6, 1932, to you, from H.E. Melnar, whose address appears to be Lake Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts, relative to information which he desires to secure concerning some of his Revolutionary War ancestors.
The Revolutionary War Section is now under the jurisdiction of the Chief Clerk, Veterans Administration, but I am today referring your letter, with inclosure, to the Chief of that Section with request that prompt attention be given the same.
Respectfully,
A. D. WILKINSON Administrative Assistant.
Adm. C.

Q117 S. 33093
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 192
In reply to your request of _____, for the history of  John Melzard , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the soldier's claim for pension.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Nov. 1775 to Feb. 1-1777 Pvt. Jeremiah Olney Daniel Hitchcock R. I.          
Battles engaged in, Long Island, Harlem Heights, Battle Snake Hill, White Plains & Branceton.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, Apr. 23-1818-His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Marblehead, Essex Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, 67 yrs.
Remarks: In 1820 soldier referred to his wife aged 68 yrs. no name stated - no further fam. data. Died May 4, 1834 from A.B.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.