Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2818, for Marshall Merriam, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Merriam, Marshall or Merrian.
S. 2818
CONTENTS

1652 Pittsburgh Ohio Agency-
Marshall Merrian
Lorain in the State of Ohio who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Couch of the Regt commanded by Col. Wadsworth in the Connecticut line for 6 months from 1776
Marshall Merrian Jan'y 20 th
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh Agency at the rate of 20 00 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of Nov. 1832 and sent to Mrs. Whiton, Eliza. C.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 30. — Pension allowance ending 4 10 March 1833 $40. —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk Book D Vol. 2 Page 137.
Rate of death roll on No. —

State of Ohio  County of Lorain 
Supreme Court aug. Term AD 1832
On this 2 nd day of August A. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable John C. Wright & + Joshua Collier judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio now sitting at Elyria in said County of Lorain Marshall Merriam a resident of the Township of La Grange in the County aforesaid & State of Ohio, aged Eighty three 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 Seventh A. 1832 — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as herein stated —
About the first of January 1776, I entered the militia as a volunteer, in the regiment which was commanded by Col. Wadsworth, of the town of Durham, Lieut. Col. Comfort Sage of Middletown, & Maj. Throop of Chatham, & the officers of my company were Capt. John Coach of Meriden & Lieut. Newton, all of the State of Connecticut — In this tour I was stationed near Boston when the enemy marched out of that place under command of Genl. Gage & we entered immediately on their leaving, & also was at the fortifying of Dorchester Heights & assisted in filling & preparing barrels of sand to roll on to the enemy when they approached. I was in no engagements with the enemy, after serving three months I was regularly discharged about 1 st of April following
About the first of August following of the same year, the militia regiment to which I belonged commanded by Col. Baldwin were ordered out on a tour of three months. I do not recollect the names of any other officers except Capt. Dayton, Lieut. Fearn & Ensign Merriam all of Watertown Conn. In this tour I went to & was in New York when Gen. Washington bro't his troops from Long Island, our regiment was ordered to proceed up North River in pursuit of Cornwallis, he returning, we were ordered to return likewise after serving three months I was discharged about first Nov. following —
I also turned out when New Haven was plundered by the enemy was in service a few days only — & I also was out in several other excursions for short periods — I was also drafted on a three months tour but being unable to go hired a substitute — I had in my instance a written discharge as I recollect — & I was engaged in no battles with the enemy — I do not recollect the names of any of the companies or regiments that some I served in, otherwise than as distinguished by the commanding officers — I do not know of any person who I can procure to testify

with regard to my services as a revolutionary soldier, nor have I any documentary Evidence of my services — I was born in the town of Meriden Conn. A. 1749. I have in my Bible a record of my age — My place of residence during Revolutionary War when not in service was in the town of Meriden Conn. Since the War I have lived in the towns of Paris Cam- den & Florence Champion & Jefferson in New York State & I have lived for for the six last years in Lagrange Lorain Co. Ohio my whole service amounted to more than six months Rev. J. Beeman & James Pelton can testify with regard to my character & belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state — Sworn to, & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid —
Marshall Merriam
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court before me Eben. Whiton Clk
We Julius Beeman a Clergyman residing in the Township of Lagrange & James Pelton residing in the township aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Marshall Merriam who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty three years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion —
Sworn & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
Before me Eben. Whiton Clk
Julius Beeman James Pelton
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that it appears to them that Julius Beeman who has signed the preceding Certificate — is — a resident in the town of Lagrange that James Pelton who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Lagrange & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit
2080 Marshall Merriam Pension paper

I Ebenzer Whiton Clerk of said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing, contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Marshall Merriam for a Pension. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office —
clerk's signature above
E. Whiton
2080 Marshall Merriam Application for a Pension

Marshall Merriam Nashell Merriam
Ohio
Not numbered from Jan 1776, six months, $ 20. Private

Marshall Merriam  BRIEF in the case of  Marshall Merriam of Logan County in the State of Ohio (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 83 Years.  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.     1 st June In 1776. " 3 " Private Gen. Woodworth   1 August 1776 " 3 " " Lt Col Conner Sgt Major Throop Capt John Couch Lt Austin Col Baldwin Capt Dayton  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? New Connecticut  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? None 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C. Little Examining Clerk.

June 7, 1937
Marshall Merriam S. 2818 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. J. F. King La Grange, Box 296 Ohio
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Marshall Merriam, born in Meriden, Connecticut, later lived in the State of New York, and about 1826, moved to La Grange, Ohio.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 2818, based upon the service of Marshall Merriam in the War of the Revolution.
Marshall Merriam was born in the year 1749 in Meriden, Connecticut; the names of his parents were not given.
bWhile a resident of Meriden, Marshall Merriam volunteered about the first of January, 1776, served three months as private in Captain John Couch's company, Colonel Wadsworth's Connecticut regiment. He enlisted about the first of August, 1776, served three months in Captain Dayton's company, Colonel Baldwin's Connecticut regiment; one --- Merriam of Watertown, Connecticut, was ensign during this service. He was out on alarm when New Haven was "plundered by the enemy", and on several other short excursions, no names of officers given.
After the Revolution, he lived in Paris, Camden,

Florence, Champion, and Jefferson, New York.
The soldier, Marshall Merriam, was allowed pension on his application executed August 2, 1832, then living in the Township of La Grange, Lorain County, Ohio, where he had lived about six years.
It was not stated that the soldier was ever married, and there was no relationship shown to the Ensign Merriam referred to herein.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and give the following data:
Marshall Merriam (as he was pensioned) Certificate # 1652 Issued November 8, 1832 Rate $ 20.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Ohio, Pittsburgh Agency
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Isaac T. Ferriss 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 ? 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 ? 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 ? yes 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 ? 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 ? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ? yes 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
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.

1912 May 13 Hist. Soc Dr. Howard C. Pruet of Lake 1937. June 7. livin to Mrs. J. B. King and
Return
2818 INVALID.
File No. 2818
Marshall Merriam First Rev War
Act: June 7 1852
Index:—Vol. A , Page 253
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Marshall Merriam Records of Jan 30/94

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Pensioned Merriam Marshall Merriam, S.F. 2818
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Jan 1. 1776 3 mos. Pvt. John Coach Wadsworth Conn.   Aug 1776 3 mos. Dayton Baldwin   ✓ a few days when and several other New Haven was short excursions plundered by the enemy as officers named  
Battles engaged in, ✓  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Meriden Conn.  Date of application for pension, Aug. 2. 1832 His ch. was al.  Residence at date of application, La Grange Twp. Lorain Co. Ohio  Age at date of application, b. in Meriden Conn. in 1749  Remarks: ✓

Ia Grange, Ohio
May 12 1937
Washington Bureau of Administration, Washington D. C.,
Sirs---
One Marshall Merriam served as soldier in Revolutionary War. Was at Dorchester Heights during Battle of Bunker Hill. Was born June 21, 1749 in Meriden, New Haven Co., Conn., where he lived until 1797- then moving to Florence, Oneida Co.,--located in, either New York or New Hampshire. Supposedly he moved from latter place to Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and probably in year of 1826 came to Ia Grange Ohio, where he is buried. He died Dec. 6, 1839.
Where could I secure war records of this man ??
Respectfully no signature Olive King
Mrs J. F. King Ia Grange Ohio Box 296

SPECIALISTS DISEASES OF MEN
CONSULTATION CONFIDENTIAL
OFFICE HOURS 8 A. M. TO 8 P. M. SUNDAY, 10 TO 1 ONLY
State Medical Offices
804 MAIN STREET
FREE MUSEUM OF ANATOMY ON FIRST FLOOR OPEN DAILY 8 A. M. TO 8 P. M.
KANSAS CITY, MO., May 6.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Honored Sir:--
Will you be so kind as to give me the military and such other data regarding the life of Marshall Merriam, a revolutionary soldier who was placed on the pension roll Nov. 8, 1832 from Loraine County, Ohio? He was in the Battle of Bunker hill, Mass., I think, and was my Great-Great Grandfather. I will be greatly obliged to you for the information.
Yours very truly,
Howard C. Truey, M.D.
804 Main St.,
Kansas City, Mo.