Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6091, for James Lake, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. Sea Service Privateers
Lake, James Mehitable
P 6091 B.L.Wt. 61242-160-55
CONTENTS

Set to S.B. Clough a/c 12/56 " " " " " 11/57 End
Vol L. Page 23.
241.710
Act March 3. '55 April 11. 1856.
61.242 April 29th 1857
Mehitable Soake, wid. James Soake. Seaman James Soake.
Ship Protector, Capt. John S. Williams.
Ent. 13. March 1781. Dis. _____ Reviv. war.
Ad: 100 Ac, April 20/57. B. Little.
Special Im
Spec. S.B.
S. B. Clough. Manchester. No 22

Uninhabited Lake Widow of James Lake
New Hampshire Rejected 7. Jan 1842.
Evans & Hart Washington City

State of New Hampshire.
Secretary's Office, Concord.
December 23 d 1882.
I hereby certify, That at the Date of the annexed attestation, Joseph Clough was an acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Merrimack in the said State, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the State, the date above written.
Jesse A. Gove Deputy Secretary of State.

POWER OF ATTORNEY. REVOLUTIONARY PENSION CLAIM.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I
Mehitable Lake of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire do hereby constitute and appoint H. S. Evans my true and lawful agent and attorney to prosecute the claim of James Lake for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or Increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said agent to examine all the papers and documents of every description in relation to said claim that may be on file in the departments at Washington City or elsewhere; to file any additional evidence or arguments that can be obtained, and to receive the certificate which may issue for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable to myself; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might do were I personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said agent and attorney shall lawfully do in the premises.
Witness my hand and seal this
10th day of December
A. D. 1852
Signed and sealed in presence of
Betsey Lake } Mehitable Lake Elizabeth C Moore
STATE OF New Hampshire Merrimack COUNTY, ss: On this 10th day of December A. D. 1852, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county and State aforesaid, Mehitable Lake and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be her free act and deed for the purposes therein expressed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year above mentioned.
Joseph Belanger Justice of the Peace.

CLAIM OF
James Lake.
Act of
June 7, 1882;
STATE OF
New Hampshire
Merrimack COUNTY, ss.
BE IT KNOWN THAT, on this
10 th day of December A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty-two before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mehitable Lake
a resident of Canterbury in said county, and made oath according to Law, that
She is the widow of James Lake deceased, who was a Revolutionary Soldier, and applied for a Pension under act of June 7, 1882;
that she has been informed that said pension ought to be increased  allowed , that she is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence and arguments as my said agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Witness:
Betsey Lake } Elizabeth C Moore }
Mehitable Lake
Subscribed and duly sworn to the day and year aforesaid, before me Joseph Clough a Justice of the Peace; and I do hereby certify that Mehitable Lake who has executed the foregoing affidavit before me is a respectable resident of this county, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
Joseph Clough Justice of the Peace.

APPLICATION FOR BOUNTY LAND.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
County of Merrimack
} ss.
On this first day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty six , personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mehitable Luke ————— aged Eighty one years, a resident of Canterbury in the State of New Hampshire, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of James Luke ————— who was a seaman on the ship Protector in the company commanded by Captain John F. Williams in the Regiment of  commanded by Colonel in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812; called the Revolutionary war
that he enlisted at Portsmouth on or about the Thirteenth day of March A. D. 18 1781 , for the term of unknown to this deponent and continued in actual service in said war for the term of one month & twenty two days and was honorably discharged at _____ on or about the _____ day of _____
A. D. 18 , as will appear by the muster rolls of said company. S. [unintelligible]
She further states that she was married to the said James Lusk on the nineteenth day of January A. D. 1895, by one Rev. Josiah Carpenter and that her name before her marriage was Nehulatie Bry and that her husband died at Santubay on the sixteenth day of September A. D. 1898, that then is not to her knowledge any public record of her said marriage now remaining. and that she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "act of March, 1855, granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who had been engaged in the military service of the United States." She further states that she has more applied for and received Bounty Land for said services under act of Sept. 28, 1850, for nor under any other act of Congress whatever.
We Eunice Mann and Elisabetta C. Mann

his Nicholas T. Lake mark
We Eunice Morse and Elizabeth C. Morse residents of Canterbury & State of New Hampshire upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Nicholas Lake in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person who represents herself to be.
Eunice Morse Elizabeth C. Morse
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and sub- scribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the applicant is the person who represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
J. H. Grew Jr. Just. Peace
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR:—Please deliver the certificate or warrant, to which I am en- titled according to the tenor of the foregoing declaration and application to S. B. Clough of Manchester, in the State of New Hampshire.
Signed in presence of me, }
his Nicholas T. Lake mark

State of New Hampshire Merrimack County.
We Eunice Moore and Joseph Clough residents of Canterbury County and State aforesaid depose and say that we have been many years residents of said Canterbury and that we have for many years known Mehitable Luke whom application for bounty land is hereto annexed: that she is the widow of James Luke who died in this town about the year 1843 at a very advanced age: that to our knowledge said Mehitable Luke and James Luke during a long term of years lived together as man and wife: that they had born to them several children who bore their name: That we now know the legality of their marriage questioned and that said Mehitable Luke is still a widow.
We further depose and say that said James Luke died at said Canterbury about the year 1843: that we were residents of said town at said time and of our own personal knowledge know that said James Luke died and was buried about that time.
Eunice Moore Joseph Clough
Subscribed and sworn to this first day of March April A.D. 1856. Before me
J. M. Garker Justice of the peace.

30.140
James Lake
Rev. J. M. Harper

State of New Hampshire Court of Common Pleas
Merrimack ss. September Term 1833.
On this 7th day of September A.D. 1833. personally appearing in open Court James Lake of Canterbury in said County aged 69 years doth on his oath make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That in the month of 1779 or 1780 at Portorico, a West India Island then under the government of Spain, he enlisted into the naval service of United States & went on board the Ship Protector of 26 Guns commanded by Capt Williams of Boston Mass, for the term of one year or at the pleasure of the Captain he was on board said vessel between three and four months, during which time said Ship took two prizes; one from Ireland bound to Halifax loaded with provisions, one from Madeira bound to New York loaded with Wine; both of the prizes were sent into Bos- -ton. While sailing near Nantucket the Protector fell in with two British vessels, one a 74, the other a 40 Gun Ship & was taken and carried into New York then in possession of the British,

That he was there put on board a Prison Ship called the Jersey, originally a Spanish vessel, after a detention on board that vessel 5 or 6 weeks he was put on board a transport vessel called the Liberty owned by  owned by Matthew Brock bank and built in Virginia & sent to Cork in Ireland, That there were many vessels, which left at New York at the same time with prisoners under Conway, a part of whom were carried to England & put into the Kings Prison and part to Ireland & were put on board of War vessels & transport ships; that by request of the Capt Brockbank, he was left on board the Liberty; and was employed by the Capt between 2 & 3 months cleaning and loading the vessel with Beef and Pork; That the vessel when loaded set out immediately for Charleston in South Carolina then in possession of the British; That after 80 days from Cork while near Charleston Harbour waiting for a pilot, a Privateer from Woburn in North Carolina took the Liberty & carried her to the bar of the River below said Woburn, That he then was set at liberty, That to the best of his recollection they were on their passage from New York to Cork about 30 days & tarried at Cork between two & three months, That soon after he landed at said Woburn he came to Norridge Connecticut, & shipped aboard a merchant vessel under Capt Cook for the West Indies

on his return home he was taken a prisoner as carried to Bermudas & was detained there until after the Revolutionary War that That at the age of 13 years he went on board the Ship Hamilton from Portsmouth N.H. under Command of Capt. Pickering a Privateer & did the duties of waiter was gone from 6 to 9 months. afterwards went aboard the Sullivan a Privateer commanded by Capt. Mar- ning was taken & carried to Halifax & detained there about 3 months. afterwards went aboard the Harrison a Privateer at Newburyport Mass, under Capt. Johnson was taken by the British & carried to Newport & put aboard the Prison Ship called the Hunter & detained there about three months. returned to Boston went aboard the Privateer America under Capt. Cappin took a prize & was put on board the prize vessel loaded with slaves & apples & sent to Cape Francisco in the West Indies after tarrying there a few weeks went aboard a Spanish vessel & sailed to Porto Rico where he enlisted as abovementioned - That he was born at Bays in the State of New Hampshire August 1764 - That since 1785 he has lived at Chebacco Salisbury Andover Northfield & Canterbury, in said County of Merrimack N.H. that he has lived in Canterbury where he now lives about Fifteen years

III
The following Statement, is detailed, in order, that it may appear why the Applicant does not know the year & month he entered the Service of the United States having been absent from here several years & several months in a tropical climate the variations of seasons were not noticed

That he has no record of his age that his brother William in said Chester has the family record in his fathers bible that there is no person living to his knowledge by whom he can prove the fact of his service
That he hereby relinquishes a every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State where John Steele his James Lake J Smith mark
As Thomas Clough residing in said Town of Canterbury, fully certify as are well acquainted with James Lake who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that he believes him to be of the age he states, that he is upated & believed to have been in the naval service of the United States during a long time in the Revolutionary War & was S r . Concur in that opinion
Thomas D. Lough

Concord, N.H. Sept 7 th 1833
This certifies that I have for many years been personally acquainted with Mr. James Lake residing in the westerly part of this town. He is a man who sustains a fair character as a person of truth & veracity. I should suppose him to be about sixty nine years old. He has the reputation in the neighborhood where he resides, of being a revolutionary seaman; his neighbors say say that they have often heard him relate the circumstances of being engaged in that service, and also of being a prisoner to the British. In testimony whereunto I have set my hand
William Patrick V.D.
State of New Hampshire } Concord August Merrimack ss } September 7, 1833
Personally appearing the above named William Patrick made oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is just and true.
Before me - Ezekiel Merrill Jr., Pea

And the said Court hereby certify their opinion after the investigation of the matter & putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary Seaman & served as he states - And the Court further certify that it appears to them, that Thomas Clough who has signed the preceding certificate is a Resident in said Town of Canterbury & that his statements are entitled to belief - And the Court further certify that William Patrick whose affidavit is hereto annexed is a Respectable Clergyman residing in said Town of Canterbury & that his statements are entitled to credit - And the Court further certify that Ezekiel Morrill whose name is subscribed on said affidavit is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Merrimack & by the Laws of this State is authorized to Administer Oaths & that his signature appears to be genuine
I Moses Eastman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Merrimack & State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of James Lake for a Pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office this 7 th day of September Anno Domini 1833. MOSES EASTMAN

5
61 242
New Amalg

Ex'r.
OLD WI
No. 6094
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
James Lake
P. O.
Service: Revolutionary
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

James Lake of New Hampshire
Rejected
vide Letter of the 24th March 1834
to Hon J. M. Harper
Act June 7 1832
A.T.

No 241 710
James Lake
June 10th 86
Adelph Evv
12
Mark
Ball on side of Boynon
L. B. Clough Manchester N.H.

S. B. Clough Manchester
N.W.
apl 4/57
241710 James Lake decd
Ref to Boynton
apl 12/56

Alma 24/7/10
Northville Lodge
61242
16000

Manchester N. H. April 23, 1837.
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting. Dear Sir -
Your communication of the 11th instant in regard to claim of Mrs. Mehitable Lake widow of James Lake Seaman No. 241710, says that in addition to other it is necessary to prove that the "Ship Proctor was a United States vessel." &c. The Ship was the "Protector" I think - In this case is proof of the character of the vessel necessary?
Respectfully Yours S. P. Hough.

Q 241.710 James Lake Dean 241.710
Add Ev
Hood Gally
L B Clough Manchester MS

Manchester N.H. June 10. 1836.
Hon. J. Minot
Dear Sir -
The Application of Mehitable Lake of Willow of James Lake No. 241.710 received April 12. 1836 was suspended until the passage of the Amendment to the Bounty Land Act.
I hope her case may receive early at- tention.
Respectfully yours.
D. D. Clough

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE—County of Hillsborough, ss.
I, Isaac M. Smith Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Manchester in the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that J. M. Barber whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State Merrimack aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that his Commission is dated on the 26th day of June A. D. 1855, and will expire in five years from date; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Police Court is a Court of Record.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Manchester this eighth day of April A. D. 1856.
Isaac M. Smith CLERK.

Manchester N.H. April. 4, 1837.
Hon. Geo. C. Whitney The Application of Widow of James Lake No. 241. 710 was filed more than two years ago . She has waited a "reasonable time" before asking what has been done with her claim. She is a poor woman and needs the benefit of her claim now more than she can at any future time.
Respectfully Yours L. B. Clough

The State of New Hampshire.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ss.
Office of the Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Manchester, in said County,
April 22 1857
HEREBY CERTIFY, That at the date of the attestation hereto annexed,
L. P. Weeks
was a Justice of the Peace in and for the
New Hampshire
in the said State, duly commissioned
qualified, and to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be
given in and out of Court, and that I believe the signature of said Justice to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court at the date above
stated.
Francis Upton
CLERK.

State of New Hampshire
Wimmack S.S. I spoke Clough of Canterbury before and say that I for a long period of years lived near James Lake and well knew him; that he moved to said town as I have been informed and believe from Portsmouth in this state many years ago; that he died in said Canterbury some 10 or 15 years ago at a very advanced age; that I have lived in this town nearly sixty years; that said Lake has many times been in my employ; that I have heard him tell of having been in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war as a seaman; I have heard him tell of circumstances attending his service; that I have been informed and believe that said James Lake also enlisted on two or three different occasions as seaman in said war and that he was once taken by the enemy and carried to Canada; that it was always understood and believed, that said James Lake was in the service in said war, by the old people who lived in said town; that such was the reported fact for many years past.

vious to his death:
That I well knew Mehitable Lake who is an applicant for Bounty Land on account of the services of said James Lake; that she is the widow of said James Lake; that she applied to me some years since to obtain a Bounty Land Warrant for her; that I at that time made some effort in her behalf but did not know at that time when to file the records of her deceased service; that I either forwarded an application with what facts I could obtain from her or wrote some letters of inquiry to the Department at Washington but did not obtain any warrant for her; that she is the identical person who is the widow of said James Lake who was reported to have served as a seaman as above stated.
Joseph Clough
Subscribed and sworn to this 22 nd day of April 1857 and I certify that the affiant above named Hon. Joseph Clough

Sustains a high standing as a citizen and for truth & veracity
L. J. Weeks just of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
At Manchester N.H. I Joseph M. Hemenway of Canterbury in said County depose and say that I was well acquainted with James Lake in his life time: That he died in this town some years since to my own knowledge: That he was an aged man when he died: That I have very many times been informed and believe that said James Lake did service in the Revolutionary war as a seaman; that this fact is one of universal belief among the old people of the town: That he always had the reputation of having done service in said war as a seaman.
I further depose and say that I well know Mehitable Lake who has made application for a Bounty Land warrant that her application was shown to before me; that she is the identical person who was the wife of, and is now now the widow of said James Lake who was the seaman of the Revolutionary war above described: That said James Lake and Mehitable Lake lived together

in said town of Canterbury as man and wife for very many years; that I have no doubt said Simon was married, and of my own knowledge I know said Nehemiah Lark to be the widow of the James Lark who was reported to have performed said service.
J. M. Harper
Additional Evidence in No. 241.710
Subscribed and sworn to this 22 nd day of April 1857 and I certify that the officer above named Hon. J. M. Harper is a man of good standing for truth & veracity
L. T. Weeks just. of the Peace

James Lake, of N. H. applied under law of 1832 from N. H. - from Arad Joy

House of Reps March 22 nd 1934
Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir
Will you have the goodness to examine the enclosed papers and send me the result as soon as con- venient and also the other two cases which I have enclosed to you within a few days
Yours with great respect
Joseph M. Schaefer

Sir.
Washington, Jan'y 7 1832
We herewith enclose a power of Attorney, authorising us to regain the papers and to prosecute the claim of James Lake, N. H. refused by June 1832.
Very respectfully Evans & Hunt
James E. Heath Esq. Caret of Post Office

Application of Mutual Lake.
241.710
Address
L. B. Clough Esq. Manchester N. H.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston. March 21 st 1856.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of James Lake is borne on pay roll of the Ship Protector. John T. Williams. Commander from March 13. to May. 9 th 1781 1 month 22 days.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
A. D. With Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretarys Office, Boston,
18
Be pleased to file a declaration in this office, agreeably to the accompanying regulations, and search will be made for the revolutionary service of and the result forwarded to your address. Particular attention is called to the second regulation.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

The following REGULATIONS, to be observed in the examination of the Revolutionary Rolls in this office, have been rendered necessary under the rules which are established in the Pension Department at Washington, viz:—
1. Every application requiring search or certificate must be made to the Secretary, in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant; and the signature to the application must be attested by some magistrate. 2. In all cases where the application is made by any person other than the claimant, a power of attorney, attested by a magistrate , authorizing such person to act in the claimant's behalf, must accompany the application. 3. The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence and service of the soldier, and the names of the officers under whom he served; and no search will be made until after the filing of such written application.
“Regulations to be observed in the examination of the Massachusetts Revolutionary Papers in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.”
“The application must be made to the Secretary, in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant, by a written power of attorney, attested by a magistrate. The signature of the claimant must in all cases be attested in like manner.
“The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence of the soldier, &c., at the time of the service, and the names of the various officers under whom he served, as well as the nature of such service.
“The certificate of the Secretary must show that the search was made, after the filing of such application, by himself, or by one of his Clerks, alone, and must be accompanied by the original application of the claimant or of his attorney, and by a detailed statement, under the signature of the Secretary and the Seal of the State, of the circumstances which satisfied that officer of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.”
The following is an extract from a letter received by the Secretary from J. E. Heath, Esq., Commissioner of Pensions, dated March 19, 1852:—
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d inst., accompanied by a copy of the Regulations now in force in your office in the examination of your Revolutionary Rolls; and, in reply to your questions, have to state that, in my opinion, the said Regulations could not be relaxed in any particular without serious injury to the Government and the rights of individuals justly entitled to the benefits of the Revolutionary Pension Laws. Indeed, even with those guards around your rolls, I am satisfied they are frequently used by unscrupulous individuals to sustain applications not embraced by the laws, and as a means of obtaining exorbitant fees.”

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES.
Made by the Wife _____ of the party who rendered the service.
County of Merrimack
State of New Hampshire Town of Gaulbury
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of James Luke in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire
He enlisted from the Town of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire in the year 17 _____ as a Lieutenant or Captain in the Company commanded by Captain
Regiment _____ and he served as follows, viz:—
My late husband deceased volunteered at several different times during the latter part of the Revolution on board of privateer ships and once I think in the regular Marine service. He was in several engagements and was at one time taken by the enemy and carried to some place in the British provinces (I think to Halifax) and afterwards recaptured and returned to Portsmouth and went again to sea. I think it was in the year 1779. It is impossible for me to tell in
* Here describe, as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank, &c., of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.

what ships he went so many years have elapsed
1858
I am now Eighty one — years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
Witness my hand, this tenth — day of March A. D. 18 58 .
his Nicholas T. Lake mark
Signed by me in the presence of Nicholas Lake
L. D. H. Clough JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.