Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18451, for Daniel Merrell, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
or Merrell, Daniel
W. 18451
Merrill,
Wilcox, Mercy
CONTENTS
Former widow

Connecticut 1980
Mercy Wilcox formerly widow of Daniel Merrill dec d
born who died on the 17 August 1776 at Litchfield in the State of Conn t . who was a Musician in the Company commanded by Captain Pettibone of the Reg t . commanded by Col. Willis in the Ct line for 7 months & 4 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn t at the rate of 26 Dollars 50 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Ap r . 1835 and sent to Ely Esq. Secretary Ct.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $185.50 Semi-annual allowance ending Feb y 1835 " 13.25 $198.75
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd March 3 1837 }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 o Page 79

State of Connecticut, Litchfield County — } J. Barkhempstead
On this 29 th day of September 1837, personally appeared in open court, before the court of Probate for the District of Barkhempstead in said County, now sitting — the Widow Mary Wiley a resident of Barkhempstead in said County & State, aged 79 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration — in order to obtain a pension.
That her maiden name was Mary Moses; that her father's name was Caleb Moses, that he lived in Simsbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut; that she was born in said Simsbury the 16 th day of September, 1758; that she lived with her said father in Simsbury till she was married to Daniel Merrill, which was on the 6 th of March A. D. 1774; that her said husband was by trade or occupation a blacksmith; that he was a fifer in the train band, under Capt. Abel Pettibone.
That on the first of May 1775, her said husband enlisted as a fifer for seven months to go into the war or army, and was marched away from said Simsbury, under the same Capt. Pettibone with a very large company, and it was said they were going to Roxbury near Boston; that Capt. Pettibone with her husband & the other soldiers did not return till the last of December 1775 or first of January 1776. That it was said & she often heard that Capt. Pettibone's company was put into Col. Wyllys's Regiment.
That in the spring of the year 1776, the latter part of March or fore part of April, Col. Jonathan Pettibone who lived in said Simsbury & within a mile of where she & her said husband lived, came to their house and told her husband he had orders to impress him, if he would not go voluntarily, to go into the army as a mechanic.

to make bayonets, make & repair gunlocks and such like business. That accordingly her said husband went home from the latter part of March or the fore part of April to New York — that he never returned home. That it was then currently reported & fully believed in Simsbury that he died in New York of the dysentery the 17th of August, 1776.
That she lived in said Simsbury till the 10th of December 1786, when she was married to Philander Wiley of New Hartford in the County of Litchfield in Connecticut; that soon after they were married, she moved from Simsbury to New Hartford where she lived several years. That afterward her husband Wiley bought a small farm in Barkhempstead, to which she & her said husband moved. That she and her said husband lived together in said Barkhempstead, till he died, which was the 10th day of June, 1813. — — — That ever since the death of her said husband Wiley, she has lived in the same town of Barkhempstead in Litchfield County and has not been married since the death of her said husband Philander Wiley. — — — That she was married to the said Daniel Wessell by Esq. Henekeiah Humphrey and to said Philander Wiley by Esquire Dudley Pettibone.
Note — The words "went" and "home" were interlined before signing.
Amos Beecher Jr R. L. Beecher
her Mary Wiley mark
Sworn to and and subscribed the day and year first above written — Before me —
Amos Beecher Jr Judge of Probate

I George Cornish of Simsbury in Hartford County in the State of Connecticut, being in the 78th year of my age and being duly sworn according to law, do testify and say—
That early in the month of May, 1775, Capt. Abel Pettibone of said Simsbury, marched from said Simsbury with a company of about 100 men, all of whom it was then said had enlisted for seven months, to go into the army. I have a perfect recollection that the company paraded near the liberty pole in said Simsbury; it stood within a mile of my father's house. I will remember there was a great collection of persons to see the company under Capt. Pettibone when they marched away. I will recollect it was said they were going to Roxbury near Boston. One Daniel Merrell, a blacksmith by trade, and whose shop was within half a mile of my father's house, was a fifer in Capt. Pettibone's company before the company went away — and he marched away in said company as a fifer. This Merrell made a bayonet for me and repaired a gunlock for me. It was late in the winter, I cannot say with certainty the exact time, when Capt. Pettibone returned to Simsbury; but when he & the company returned, the said Daniel Merrell returned with the others.
Early in the spring of the year 1776, said Merrell went again from home — and it was said that Col. Pettibone of said Simsbury drafted or ordered him to go — that he was needed or wanted as a gunsmith. He went away but never returned. It was reported and fully believed in Simsbury, that he died in New York of the dysentery, in the summer of 1776.
I further testify & say, that I was well acquainted

with Mary Moses of said Simsbury; we were brought up in the same neighborhood and school district. She and the said Merrill lived together as husband and wife. I did not see them married, but have no doubt they were legally married. She lived in Simsbury after the death of her husband Merrill, several years, I think as many as 8 or 10. Then she was married (I was not at the marriage or wedding) to Philander Wilcox of New Britain in Litchfield County. She lived in New Britain with the said Wilcox some years; then said Wilcox moved to Barkhamsted an adjoining town in said Litchfield County. There the said Wilcox & his wife Mary lived, till the death of said Philander, which was a number of years ago. His widow now lives in said Barkhamsted. Furthermore I say not. John D. Pittsborn.
George Cornish
Subscribed & sworn to by the said George Cornish, who is a credible witness and a person of truth and veracity and with whom I am personally acquainted; Simsbury, Hartford County, in Connecticut, this 21st day of September, 1837. —
Before me John D. Pittsborn Justice of Peace

1. ROYAL R. HINMAN , Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
THAT John A. Pitkin Esquire, is, and for more than six months last past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgement of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said J A Pitkin in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the 6 th day of October — in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven And I certify that this signature above is the genuine signature of said John A Pitkin Royal R. Hinman Secretary

And the said Court doth declare its opinion after a careful perusal of the declaration of the applicant, Mercy Wilcox; and after an attentive perusal of the affidavits of Reuben Messinger, George Berrill, Anne Berrill & Moses Ensign, — that Daniel Merrill enlisted as a piper for seven months and that he actually served as such and as an artificer or armorer eight months in the Revolutionary War. And that he performed another tour of duty in the Revolutionary War of at least three months and an half as an armorer and that both of these tours of duty were performed after his marriage. That he was married to Mercy Moses; and that after his death the said Mercy was married to Philander Wilcox — that he died many years ago; and that since his death the said Mercy has remained single & unmarried.
Amos Beecher Jr. Judge of Probate
I, R. L. Beecher — Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Darkhempstead, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Mercy Wilcox for a pension. And I also certify that Amos Beecher, Jr. who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing as above is Judge of Probate for the District of Darkhempstead.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 2 9 th day of September A. D. 1837.
Attest, R. L. Beecher, Clerk

I Anne Cornish of Simsbury, in Hartford County and State of Connecticut, in the 83 rd year of my age &, being duly sworn do testify & say. —
That I was well acquainted with Daniel Merrill of said Simsbury — he was by occupation or trade a blacksmith; his shop was in less than a mile of my father's house. He was a fifer in the train band of Capt. Abel Pettibone, before the revolutionary war began; and in the spring of 1775 — the same Capt. Pettibone with a great company went from Simsbury, as it was then said, to Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts. This was the fore part of the month of May. Said Merrill went as a fifer in Capt. Pettibone's company.
Capt. Pettibone did not return to Simsbury till late in the winter, but when he the other soldiers returned, Merrill returned. — The next year, in the spring of 1776, the said Merrill again left home & it was then said he had gone into the army to New York, to be employed as a gunsmith. He never returned.
It was currently reported in Simsbury, that he died in the summer of that year, I think in the month of August, of the dysentery, in New York. Col. Pettibone of Simsbury, who went into the army, died the same summer of the same disorder, at a place or town then called Wrye near New York.
And I further testify that I was intimately acquainted with Mary Moses then of said Simsbury; we were born & brought up in the same neighborhood. She and said Daniel Merrill were married as I suppose, for they lived together as husband & wife before he went into the Revolutionary War. After the death of her

husband Merrill, she lived single several years.
She was then married to one Philander Wilcox of New Britain in Litchfield County. She lived a few years, I cannot say how many with said Wilcox in New Britain - and afterwards she & her husband Wilcox moved to Barkhamsted a town adjoining New Britain - there she lived with her husband Wilcox till his death, which was many years since; and then it is said she now lives and remains the widow of said Wilcox. - And further I say not.
John O Pittsborn
Anne Cornish
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Anne Cornish, with whom I am personally acquainted and whom I certify to be a woman of truth & veracity; - this 21st day of September, 1834 - in Simsbury, Hartford County in Connecticut -
Before me - John O Pittsborn Justice of Peace

Mary Moses the daughter of Caleb Moses Junr the 2 nd of that name was born in Simsbury the 16 th day of September A.D. 1758 ~
Daniel Merrill and Mary Moses were joined in marriage the 6 th day of March A.D. 1774 ~ by Hezekiah Humphrey Justice of Peace ~
Philander Wilcox of New Hartford and the Widow Mary Merrill were legally joined in marriage Dec r 10 th 1786 by Dudley Pettibone Justice of Peace ~
I Moses Ensign Town Clerk of the town of Simsbury in Hartford County & state of Connecticut do certify that the above are true copies from the Records of said town of Simsbury ~ Simsbury September 25 th 1837 ~
Moses Ensign Town Clerk ~
State of Connecticut, ss. Simsbury September 26 th Hartford County — 1837 — Personally came before me Moses Ensign and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed.
John D Pettibone Justice of Peace

V2797
Mercy Wilson formerly widow of Daniel Merrill
At: Allau 7 mo 14 d
Marr'd 1774
died 1786 76
Allau. 7. 14 days
Musician -
Capt. Pittston
Col. Wyllis.
Col. Miller
P. D. E.
Haverbury 6 mo

I Reuben Hepsinger of New Hartford in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut, in the 84th year of my age, & being duly sworn do testify & say - That I was born in Simsbury in Hartford County in said State, and in that part of said Simsbury which is now a town by the name of Canton. I lived in the neighborhood where I was born till I moved into this town where I now reside, which is between fifty & sixty years ago.
That the first of May 1775 I enlisted as a private into Capt. Mel Pettibone's Company - the said Capt. Pettibone belonged to or lived in said Simsbury - This was at the beginning of the Revolutionary War - I enlisted for seven months - and was mustered in said Company which contained more than ninety privates from Simsbury aforesaid, to Roxbury near Boston in the State of Massachusetts.
When our Company arrived to Roxbury, it was put into Col. Wyllys's Regiment - After the expiration of the seven months for which we had enlisted - the whole Regiment was paraded and General Spencer made a speech to us - He said the country would be greatly exposed to the enemy if we should all then leave the camp & he intreated us to stay another month, and directed all of us who were willing to stay another month, to clude our muskets. Almost the whole Regiment consented. I do not think there were ten privates who did not clude their muskets. And we stayed another month, making eight

months in the whole.
and I further testify that David Merrill of Simsbury aforesaid, enlisted into the same Company under Capt. Pettibone as a fifer and that he enlisted for seven months as we all did. That he marched from Simsbury in 8, with the same Company. — That after we had been in Roxbury about a month, the said Merrill being a blacksmith by trade and an ingenious mechanic, he was detached & taken from said Capt. Pettibone's Company and was employed in or for the same Regiment as an armorer, and was employed as an armorer. His business was to make bayonets & to make & repair gun locks & such like business.
That the said Merrill has been dead a great many years — that he left a widow who was married to Philander Wilcox of New Hartford in said Litchfield County and that she and her said husband Wilcox some years after they were married moved from said New Hartford to Barkhamsted in said Litchfield County — and there, on a farm which said Wilcox bought, he and his said wife who was the widow of said Merrill, lived till the death of said Wilcox, which is more than twenty years ago. Said New Hartford & Barkhamsted are adjoining towns — and ever since the said Wilcox lived in Barkhamsted I have lived within three miles of where

he said Wilcox lived & died — Since his death, his death his widow who was one the widow of said Merrill has now lived and now lives in the same house in which her husband Wilcox lived & died. — Since the death of said Wilcox she has remained unmarried & now is the widow of said Wilcox deceased. —
Roger Mills Benjamin Bly
Reuben his  Mosinger mark
Sworn to & subscribed by the said Reuben Mosinger, who is to me personally and well known & whom I certify to be a man of strict truth & veracity & full credit is to be given to his testimony. —
Sworn & subscribed as aforesaid before me in Northford, County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut this 15th day of August 1837.
Roger Mills Justice of the Peace

I, ROYAL B. HINMAN , Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
THAT Roger Mills ————— Esquire, is, and for more than six months last past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Litchfield in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgement of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Roger Mills in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary of State, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the 5 th day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and I further certify that his signature above is his genuine handwriting
Royal B. Hinman Secretary of State

V2797
Mercy Wilson formerly widow of Daniel Merrill
At: Allau 7 mo 1807
Marr'd 1774
died 1786 76
Allau. 7. 14 days
Musicians -
Capt. Pittston
Col. Wyllis.
Col. Melcher
P. D. E.
Stanbury 6 mo

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 18451
Mercy Wilcox Homewid' of Daniel Morrill Musician Rev. War
Act: July 4, 1836
Index:—Vol. M , Page 344
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Suspended
See let. to Benj m Ely Dec r 13, 1837.
" " " same Apr. 12. '38

Apr 23
Simsbury, Con. Apr. 20. —
Free. —
Hon. J. H. Pitcairn Merrey
James L. Edwards — Commissioner of Pensions —
*
Washington. D. C.

Simsbury, Con. April 20th 1838.
Honorable James L. Edwards Respected Sir
Yours of 12th instant came to hand the 17th - as no more evidence can be procured in the case of "Mrs. Mary Wilcox, formerly the widow of Daniel Merrill, deceased", you will please to enclose to me a certificate for "7 months and 14 days", agreeably to your letter of the 12th. - I have not the U. S. law concerning pensions, but supposed Merrill's services the second tour was embraced. While I am sorry the poor widow cannot obtain for that tour, I trust she will be grateful for the aid she will receive from the national benefit, granted for the term of 7 months & 14 days. It will be of great & essential benefit to her.
I am, Sir, with great respect, yours.
Benjamin Ely
Please direct to me as before - Simsbury, Con.

Simsbury, Conn. Jan. 20th 1838.
Hon. James L. Edwards — Sir.
Since the receipt of a letter dated "War Department, Pension Office, December 13, 1837." I have procured a certificate from the Comptroller, relative to the services of Daniel Merrill. I have also procured another deposition or affidavit from George Cornish; both of which are herewith sent. I know not that any further testimony or proof can be adduced as to the services of said Merrill.
Please make returns, directing to me in Simsbury, Conn.
I am, Sir, respectfully yours
Benjamin Bly
Perhaps it may be unnecessary to state, though I hope not improper, for it is true, that George Cornish is a man of unblemished reputation; he has been for many years a deacon in the Congregational Church in Simsbury. — —
Deacon Cornish's deposition was taken before the same Justice, that he deposed before in the former instance. This, I suppose, will preclude the necessity of a certificate from Secretary of State or Clerk of County Court, that said Pottileone was a Justice of the Peace, &c. — —

Comptroller's Office Hartford Connecticut Dec 30th 1837
I certify that Daniel Merrill is credited for service in the 7 Company 2 d Regiment in the Colony of Connecticut, from May 4 th to Dec 18 th 1775, a period of 7 months & 14 days, it appears by the Pay Roll on which said Merrill's name is found that the company was commanded by Capt Abel Pettibone.
Col Jonathan Pettibone is charged for several payments made to him for expenses of his Regt in New York in 1776, but no rolls of the companies composing his Regiment have been found, Wm Field Comptroller

I, George Cornish, of Simsbury, Hartford County and State of Connecticut, in the 78th year of my age, and being duly sworn do testify & say, that, except myself, there is no man living in the vicinity of my residence & in which vicinity formerly resided Daniel Merrell, who is old enough to remember, that said Merrell went into the army of the revolution: That in the same neighborhood live three aged women, one of whom is my sister, Anne Cornish, who retains her memory & mental powers in an uncommon manner, & who a few months since gave her deposition relative to the services of said Merrell. The other two women by reason of age & loss of memory & mental powers would not be considered competent witnesses to testify in a court of justice, of matters which took place so long ago. I further testify that said Merrell went from Simsbury in the spring of 1776, and to my best recollection in April; and it was then said he had gone into the army as a gunsmith; & that he was drafted or ordered to go by Col. Jon a Pettibone who belonged to Simsbury. This is what was said at that time. But how he went or with whom I have no recollection. He never returned to Simsbury. It was currently reported & fully believed in Simsbury that said Merrell died in or near New York in the latter part of the summer of 1776; and the impression on my mind is, that it was about the time that Col. Jon a Pettibone died; and he died as it was said, on his return from New York, of the dysentery in 1776, at a place then called Wye. Col. Pettibone was living, the 10th of August 1776, which was my birth day, I then being 16 years old. How long it was after that, or how soon after, I cannot say. It was said that Merrell died of the dysentery.
George Cornish
State of Connecticut } ss. Simsbury on this 18th day Hartford County } of January, 1838 the above deposition was sworn to & subscribed before me the subscriber, by the said George Cornish, with whom I am personally acquainted and who is a credible witness.
John C. Pettibone Justice of Peace

Apr 10
Mr. Sylvester
Rev. A. North
[Signature]
Hon. James L. Edwards — Commissioner of Pensions — Washington.
Mr. Wilcox Mr. Munroe Gen

Subject matter of this, is the application of Mrs. Mary Wiley, for a pension. —
Simsbury, Conn. April 6th 1838. Honorable James L. Edwards —
A letter from your office signed by "Geo. W. Crampton" sitting Commissioner of Pensions, dated 13th December, 1837, was duly received. Sometime afterward I went to Hartford & procured a certificate from the Comptroller as to the service of Daniel Merrill's first term. Nothing was found in his office respecting the second term. With the certificate of the Comptroller I sent another deposition from Geo. Cronish. I know not that any further testimony as to the second term can be obtained. The men of that generation have almost all been removed. Whatever the Hon. Mr. Edwards or Mr. Crampton shall decide as to the length of the second term from the papers heretofore sent, must be conclusive, as it seems to be in vain to seek for further proof.
I do intreat the Hon. Mr. Edwards or Mr. Crampton not to be offended, when I request his attention to Mrs. Wiley's application as soon as it can with propriety be given. I do assure you, Gentleman, that Mrs. Wiley is a poor & needy widow; and

her poverty is my apology for now addressing you. I have been called on very many times for the result of this application. — The duties of your office are doubtless, constant & arduous, and it is with great reluctance I now trouble you; but the widow's poverty & repeated enquiries are my apology. —
Very Respectfully I am Yours —
Benjamin Ely