Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,974, for John Meriam, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.H.
Meriam, John Merriam
S. 18, 974
carded
CONTENTS

2665-
Vermont
John Merriam
Barton in the State of Vermont who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Webber of the Reg t commanded by Col. Nichols in the N. H. militia for 14 months & 2 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 46 Dollars 87 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Sept. 1832, and sent to Pensioner Barton Vt
  Years to 4th of Sept. 1832  70.30    Semi-annual allowance ending 4. March 1833  23.43     93.73  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by McCuiffie Clerk Book D Vol. 4 Page 73 .

N o 1369 John Merriam Barton, Orleans County, Vermont
Dep d for Olyntus 5 th on 25 th Oct 1832.
Sent to Grafton Barton etc.
Page 9

BRIEF in the case of  John Merriam  of Barre, Orleans County in the State of Vermont  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
In open Court (Probate Court)
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?
75 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.     Summer In 1776 R 6 2 privates Capt. Goldsmith, Capt. Webber, Col. Waits & Col. Bellows Regt   Spring 1778 2 2 Volunteers - The same officers   " enlisted 5 4 - Capt. Webber - Col. Nichols Regt but discharged before his enlistment expired   " 3 - The same officer, as a volunteer   * 1780 3 14 - The same 3 months of which time he hired a man to serve for him at his own expense.   7 11 14  
5. In what battles was he engaged? New Hampshire Troops
In the battle of Bennington 14 months 2 days by Rolls & certificates
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
At Wheelock in the State of New Hampshire
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
By living witnesses - properly authenticated
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
They are not
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Howland Examining Clerk.
* only 3 months proved by a muster. 3 d Period of service not definite.

N o 1369.
John Merriam Declaration for Pension -
July 31 180 2
Pension Office

State of Vermont { On this 28 th day of July Orleans County } A.D. 1882 personally appeared John Merriam a resident of Barton in Orleans County and State of Vermont aged seventy five 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the service of the United States at Walpole in the State of New Hampshire where he then lived for six months in the summer of 1776 under Captain Goldsmith in Col. Waits Regiment but entered the service at Charleston New Hampshire in Capt. Christopher Webbers Company in Col. Bellows Regiment, was marched to Mt Independence until he was discharged in the fall of the same year - That he next served as a volunteer three months early in the spring of 1777 under the same officers at Mt Independence - that immediately after Ticonderoga was evacuated by our troops he enlisted again in Captain Webbers Company in Col. Nichols Regiment for six months joined the army his company at Charleston N.H. was marched to Manchester Vermont thence to Bennington - was in the Bennington Battle, and was discharged as he believes believes before his term of six months expired. That he enlisted again for three months and served said term of three months under the same officers at and near Bennington

That early in the Spring of 1780 at my own expense I hired a man by the name of Nathan Carpenter to serve for me three months who served but I cannot tell in what company or regiment That in the summer of the same year I enlisted again in Capt. Webbs Company in Col. Nicholls Regiment for three months That I joined my company at Winchester N.H. was Marched to Saratoga, now Hudson New York thence to Fish Kill and then to West Point where I was discharged - was at West Point at the time Arnold deserted. I further say that all the above terms of service were in the New Hampshire Militia or State Troops - and that I never received any written discharge - and I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid - John Meriam
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states I John H. Kimball Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Meriam for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23 d day of July 1832 -
John H. Kimball Register of the Probate Court

State of Vermont } At a Probate Court held at Caledon District } Barton within and for the District of Caledon aforesaid on this 13 th day of November 1882 came John Hemen. The applicant named in the annexed declaration. Who being first duly sworn, deposes and saith that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precisely at the  precisely at the precise length of his service in the Third Period mentioned in his said declaration, but according to his best recollection he heard of the evacuation of Ticonderoga on his return . way home on his return . From his second period of service that in three or four days after his return home he enlisted under the same Capt. Christopher Hemen (who was his neighbor and resided in Walpole) for six months in Col. Nichols Regiment of the Vermont State Troops. That at the time of said enlistment they expected to march to the South and join the main army at White Plains. That he then  then joined his company at Charleston Vermont, that before they marched or there came the enlist for three months and march to the north to oppose Burgoyne. This he believes was about a month after his enlistment, most of the men re-enlisted for the three months service  some  re-enlisted remained at home - That he continued in his company under his first enlistment and marched as mentioned in his declaration. That after the Battle of Bennington Col. Nichols Regiment marched to oppose Burgoyne but that Capt. Hemen remained at Bennington in charge of captured property &c - and that he being written to by Capt. Hemen remained there with him - That they remained at Bennington until the surrender of Burgoyne as well as with them on our return to Walpole when we heard of that event - Capt. Hemen took me with him to Walpole and thereafter then left me and went to Portsmouth or Exeter I believe, and

I received no more orders from him or any of my officers during the remainder of the six months for which I enlisted - but I was as I believe liable to service until the expiration of the above named period - The leaving me at Walpole by Capt. Webber when he went to Portsmouth or Exeter is what I alluded to in my declaration when I say "I was discharged as I believe before my my time of six months expired - subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid
John Morann
The time I was in actual service under said enlistment four months - one month before the three months enlistments and three months afterwards - subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid
John Morann
State of Vermont } ss } John H. Kimball Regiments Pulaski District } of the probate court for the District of Pulaski aforesaid do hereby certify that on this 13 th day of November 1832 John Morann the signer of the affidavit above deposition personally appeared in open court and made solemn oath that the same is true - In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal of office
This 13 th day of November A.D. 1832
John H. Kimball Regiments

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Feb 7, 1917.
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Merriam a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Summer 1776 to Fall 1776 Pat. Goldsmith Christopher Weber Wait Bellows N.H.   Spring 1777 2 mos " " "   Summer 1777 4 " " " Moses Nichols   3 " " " " "   Summer 1780 3 " " " " "  
Battles engaged in, Burlington.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Walpole Cheshire Co. N.H.
Date of application for pension, July 22, 1832. His ch. was ab.
Residence at date of application, Barton Orleans Co. Vt.
Age at date of application, 73 years
Remarks: It is not stated whether he was ever married.
His name was also spelled Merriam.
The above noted is the only John Merriam or Merriam who served in the N.H. Troops or resided in N.H. or Vt. who is found on the Rev. War records of this Bureau
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

In reply to your request for a statement of military history of John Meriam , Ser. J. 18974 ✓, a soldier in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Walpole, N.H. Summer 1776 6 mos Private Goldsmith. Christopher Webber, or Wait. Bellows, N.H.   Spring 1777 2 mos Christopher Webber Bellows "   in Lakin's After 14, musketeer 4 mos Christopher Webber Moses Nichols "   3 mos Christopher Webber Nichols "   Summer 1780 3 mos Christopher Webber " "  
Battles engaged in, "Bennington"
Cheshire
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Walpole, N.H.
Date of application for pension, July 23, 1832. His claim was allowed ✓
Residence at date of application, Barton, Orleans Co. Vt. ✓
Age at date of application, 75 years. ✓
Remarks: No family data - he had a bro.
Don't copy this too involved
Very respectfully,
Mr. Frank Brannan Keezer
Kittredge Building
20581b3m11-05
Denver, Col.
Commissioner

18974 INVALID.
File No. 18974
John Merriam
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. / , Page 255
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1906 Dec 19—History to Frank M. Kezer. M.B.H.
1908 May 8, Letter to above
1916 Nov 16 Hist. to Miss Alice M. Smith
1917 Feb 7 Hist. to F.A. Merriam, Rev.
1918 Mar 4 F.A. Merriam that only
one statement is about the one person
Letter in M.F.L. 1627 Joseph Burick

FRANK MERRIAM KEEZER ATTORNEY AT LAW PHONE MAIN 6784 510 KITTREDGE BUILDING DENVER, COLORADO.
Denver, Colo. April 29. /08
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
of Warpole W.H. On December 19th. 1906 you forwarded me statement regarding the Revolutionary service of John Merriam and his application for pension. The same referred to S.U.R. File #18974. On the first line given by the statement of the service, it appears that John Merriam served in the Company of Captain Goldsmith in Col. Wait's Regiment in the summer of 1776. Now I desire to learn the full name of the Captain Goldsmith referred to. I imagine that it is Captain Josiah Goldsmith of Warpole, New Hampshire, and write to inquire whether or not the records would show this fact.
Awaiting your reply, I am
Yours truly,

FRANK MERRIAM KEEZER.
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR.
KITTREDGE BUILDING
DENVER, COLORADO.

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Mr. G. M. Saltzgaber, Comm. of Pensions, War Department, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
In preparing papers for application for membership in the organization known as the Daughters of the American Revolution I find it necessary to have more information than I can obtain here. I therefore respectfully ask that you kindly send me transcript of the records of service of John Merriam, Senior and John Merriam, Junior both of whom served in the Revolutionary War from Walpole, New Hampshire.
Very respectfully yours,
(Miss) Alice May Eveleth
Dict.

THE DAILY ARGUS IS A MEMBER OF THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS. ITS AVERAGE PAID CIRCULATION OF OVER 6,000 DAILY IS GUARANTEED UNDER A. B. C. AUDIT. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE GREATEST WANT ADVERTISING MEDIUMS AS COMPARED WITH A PAPER MANY TIMES ITS SIZE, AND CARRIES MORE OF THESE POPULAR ADVERTISEMENTS THAN ANY PAPER IN A CITY OF SIMILAR SIZE IN THE UNITED STATES
The Daily Argus
ESTABLISHED 1892
WESTCHESTER COUNTY'S LEADING NEWSPAPER
11-13 South Third Avenue
STILES & MERRIAM, Inc.
Proprietors
MARK D. STILES. . . . . President F. A. MERRIAM. . Vice-President and Treasurer M. S. PORTER. . . Sec'y and General Manager
MOUNT VERNON, N. Y.
January 27, 1917.
Address all communications to The Daily Argus
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Is it possible to secure from the records of the Pension Bureau, whether John Merriam and John Merriam, Jr., of Walpole, New Hampshire, or John Merriam, Jr., of Barton, Vermont, were ever granted a pension by the government for service in the war of the Revolution?
I am enclosing a copy of a certificate from the Secretary of State of the state of New Hampshire, concerning the service of John Merriam in the Revolutionary war. You will note that in regard to the various services rendered by John Merriam and John Merriam, Jr., it does not specify which one had the longer service as in only one instance are the father and son mentioned together. At the close of the Revolution, John Merriam, Jr., moved from Walpole, New Hampshire to Barton, Vermont. If he applied for pension, no doubt, it would be dated from this place.
Trusting that you can furnish me some information, I beg to remain,
Very truly yours,
J. A. Merriam

V.L.M. Rev. War Section.
March 4, 1918.
Mr. F. A. Merriam, 11-13 South Third Avenue, Mount Vernon, N. Y.
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 26 th ultimo, you are advised that the record of John Merriam S. File No. 18,974, Revolutionary War was forwarded to you February 7, 1917; it is not the practice of this Bureau to furnish the same statement more than once to the same person.
Very respectfully,
J. M. [unclear] Commissioner.

Record Division.
May 8, 1908.
Mr. Frank M. Keezer, Kittredge Building, Denver, Colorado.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 29" ultimo, and received the 2" instant, you are advised that the Christian name of Captain Goldsmith is not mentioned in the pension claim (S. File 10,974) of John Meriam who refers to him only once in his declaration, stating that he "enlisted in the service of the United States at Walpole in the State of Newhampshire where he then lived, for six months in the Season fall of 1778, under Captain Goldsmith in Colonel Waits Regiment but entered the service at Charles-ton, Newhampshire in Captain Christopher Webbers company in Colonel Bel-lows Regiment "
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

I Asa Wilcox of Surry in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, of lawful age testify and say that in the year 1777 I was in the Northern Army, on the two months service, at and near Bennington and in the Bennington Battle - and that while there I saw John Merriam, then of Walpole the Town adjoining where I lived then now, - now of Barton Vermont as in days that he was then doing duty as a private in the same Regiment that I was, Col. Nichols - the not in the same Company - Saw him in Bennington - Saw him soon after his return - had conversation with him about the battle - took a pair of Wessian gaiters of him which he informed me he bro't home with him - and understood from him then, that he passed over the Wessian breast work among the fish and heard me several holes in his clothes which he then said were made by musket balls in that action. -
Asa Wilcox
State of New Hampshire Cheshire ss
July 13. 1832 -
Subscribed & sworn to
Before me Thomas M. Edwards, Jus. Peace. I certify that the above deponent is a credible witness Thomas M. Edwards - Jus. Peace
I Daniel Merriam of Walpole in the County of Cheshire State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose that I am sixty three years of age that I am brother to John Merriam formerly of said Walpole now of Barton Vermont - That in the year 1776 I lived in said Walpole both of us in our fathers family, that I recollect that said John went off to war in the Northern Army, as waiten to Col. Bellows. recollect his going and away and returning, as he was didnt see him in the service, but understood at the time that he was going and after he came back that he had served. - also that he was gone in the 1777 - month of the season - that he was in the battle of Bennington also that he went afterwards to New Paitn - These things were talked over in the family while he was absent & after his returns from the several services - The length of the several services I do not recollect -
Daniel Merriam
Cheshire ss
July 13. 1832.
Subscribed & sworn to
Before me Thomas M. Edwards Justice of the Peace I certify that the above deponent is a credible witness Th. M. Edwards Jus. Peace.

Cheshire. July 13. 1832.
I Salma Hale clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of Cheshire certify that Thomas M. Edwards is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, & that his name four times subscribed on the foregoing page is in his own hand writing. In testi- mony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
S. Hale

I John P. Blake of Keene in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire of lawful age testify and say that in the year 1780 - I was in the service of the United States, as first sergeant, in Captain Houghton's Company in Hook's New Hampshire Troops at West Point, went from said Keene, in the month of June I think - when at Winchester in said County of Cheshire where the troops enlisted in this neighbourhood were ordered to muster, I met with John Merriam, then of Walpole in said County now of Barton in Vermont, who was then a private in Captain Houghton's Company of the same Regiment - that we marched together to West Point - and remained there together while my term lasted being three months - that when it I was dismissed I left him there in the service. -
State of New Hampshire Cheshire ss.
John P. Blake
July 12. 1832 -
Subscribed & Sworn to Before me Thomas M. Edwards Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above deponent is a disinterested and credible witness -
Thomas M. Edwards Jus. Peace.
Cheshire ss. July 13. 1832
I Selma Hale, clerk of the Inferior Court in said County certify that Thomas M. Edwards is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County & that his name twice above subscribed is in his own handwriting. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature.
S. Hale