Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15078, for Abraham Merriam, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Merriam, Abraham Hannah
W 15078
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 1-948
Hannah Merriam
widow of Abraham Merriam
who died in the year 1805. of Middlesex in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hix of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mason in the Mass. line for 3 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of - 80 - Dollars .00 - Cents, per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of April 1836 and sent to H. R. Fletcher House of Rep.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1835 $560.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 40.00
$600.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3rd }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk Book 4 Vol. 2 Page 55

V3141
Hannah Merriam widow of Abraham
Mass.
Marrid 1778
Died abt 1804
Allen 2d p.m. Mass Genl line, Capt Alex G. Weston $80 per ann com 4 March 1834
M. D. Fletcher

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT , Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Edward Everett
Know Ye, That Stephen Bacon Esq r is a justice of the Peace; that Samuel S. B. Day Esq r is Judge of Probate, that John Merriam Esq r is a Justice of the Peace, and that Isaac Fiske Esq r is Register of Probate, all for the County of Middlesex; (and were so at the date of their several attestations,) in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestations are in due form, and by the proper Officers.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twenty ninth day of November, A. D. 1837, and in the sixth second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Ms. A. 9. 2. 24

I Hannah Merriam of Billerica in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty five years Do this 3 rd day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven Make the following declaration, viz. My name before I was married was Hannah Bowman on the sixth day of April and, in the year 1778 I was Lawfully Married to Abraham Merriam of said Bedford, By the Rev d Joseph Penniman who was then the Minister of Bedford I further state that My Husband had served in the war of the Revolution before our marriage, and that he returned into the service soon after, and continued in the Army to the end of the war except that he visited home at times on a furlough as he stated, we had a son born in the year 1779 and a Daughter in the year 1781, I further say that the aforesaid Abraham Merriam died in Bedford about thirty two or thirty three years ago, and that since that time I have remained unmarried Witness Reuben Baron                                        Hannah Merriam Silas Richardson                                                                her h Mark
Middlesex S s ss. Oct. 3 rd 1837. Then the above named Hannah Merriam Personally appeared and made Oath that the above declaration by her subscribed by her Mark was true Before Me Reuben Baron Justice of the Peace Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Middlesex ss. On this tenth day of October, in the year eighteen hundred & thirty seven, personally appeared Hannah Merriam, aged eighty five years before the Court of Probate for said County of Middlesex then held at Cambridge in for said County & made the foregoing declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed the fourth day of July A.D. 1836 & then there sub- scribed & made oath to the truth of the same, before said Court - J. P. Fay Judge of Probate for said County

I certify that the age of the said Applicant & the day of her marriage were intitled in her declara- tion before she was sworn to it in Court —
J. C. C. May Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Middlesex ss.
I Isaac Kirke Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth aforesaid hereby certify that Samuel P. May Esquire, is the Judge of said Court of Probate duly commissioned and qualified; & that the signatures written on the foregoing Papers are his genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty seven
Isaac Kirke Reg.

Abraham Merriam & Hannah Bowman both of Bedford Were Married April 6 th 1778 By The Rev Joseph Penniman
A true copy of Records of the Town of Bedford Book of Record of Marriages Page 114 attest. Reuben Baron Clerk of the Town of Bedford County of Middlesex State of Massachusetts
Abraham Son of Abraham Merriam and Hannah his wife, was born in Bedford, February 14 th 1779 Lydia Merriam daughter of Abraham Merriam and Hannah his wife was born November ye 8 th 1781 a true copy of Record of the Town of Bedford Book of Births & deaths Page 29 th attest. Reuben Baron Clerk of the Town of Bedford aforesaid Bedford September 18 th 1837
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss Sept 18 th 1837
Then the above named Reuben Baron Personally appeared and made oath that the copies of Records above by him subscribed are true
Before Me John Merriam Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss I Francis Rootes Justice of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Middlesex, hereby certify that John Merriam Esq. is a justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex duly appointed & qualified & that his signature above written is his genuine signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of said Court this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty seven Francis Rootes

I John Webber of Bedford in County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby testify and say that I was personally acquainted with Abraham Merriam Before the war of the Revolution in the year 1775 he resided in Bedford was then a young man I well recollect that he entered the service soon after the commencement of the war I am  of  the  opinion to believe that he continued a long time in the service although he was occasionally at Bedford during the time, and that he was married or was reputed to be, to a girl by the name of Hannah Bowman, and had children before the close of the war
Commonwealth of Massachusetts John Webber Middlesex S s April 29 th 1837. Then the above named John Webber personally made oath that the above statement by him subscribed was true
Before Me Reuben Bacon Justice of the Peace
I Sarah Page of Bedford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Certify that I well remember Abraham Merriam of Bedford and that in the year 1775 he lived with the Father of my husband that he was not twenty one years of age at the commencement of the war of the Revolution that he went into the service soon after the war began and in the year 1778 that he was reputed to be married to Hannah Bowman, during the war and from the best of my recollection he was out in the service at different times during the war
I certify that I am now ninety years of age Middlesex S s April 29 th 1837
Sarah Page
Then the above named Sarah Page made oath that the statement by her subscribed is true according to the best of her knowledge Before Me Reuben Bacon Justice of the Peace
I Lucy Bowman of Billerica in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Depose and say that I knew Abraham Merriam of Bedford in the time of the war of the Revolution that sometime in the year 1777 or 8 was married to the sister of my husband whose name was Hannah Bowman and according to the best of my recollection he was out in the war most of the time to the close  same of the war , I also certify that the said Hannah is now living in Billerica and has ever since the death of Abraham Merriam continued and remained his widow
Lucy Bowman
Middlesex S s April 29 th 1837 then the above named Lucy Bowman personally made oath to the truth of the above statement by her subscribed Before me Reuben Bacon Justice of the Peace
H. W. Mark X

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named deponents, John Webber & Sarah Page and know that they are reputed as Persons of Respectability and Veracity Silas Richardson
I hereby certify that I am also personally acquainted with Lucy Bowman within named & know her to sustain a good Reputation for truth and veracity.
Silas Richardson.
Middlesex Ss. September 18 th 1837
Then the above named Silas Richardson made oath that the certificates above by him subscribed are true
Before Me John Merriam Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middletown ss. I Francis Fisher Register of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth aforesaid hereby certify that John Merriam Esquire, is a justice of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned & qualified, & that his signature above written is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven. Francis Fisher Reg.

Boston Nov 28, 1837. The following Statement of Service performed by Abraham Merriam the Father & Abr m Merriam the Son both Soldiers in the Army of the Revolution without designa- -tion, taken an account of in order to obtain evidence to support the Claim of the Widow of Abraham Merriam for land bounty and that she may be entitled to the benefit of the Act of Congress of July 4 th & Mar. 3 1837. preferred to the Commissioners on Pensions at Washington for his examination & decision. - The service was under the following Officers
viz Captains & Colonels, when entered ..    Moore  or  1775  April 28.  Entered for  8 m o    E Richardson  Poor  1778  June 28.  " " "  9 "    Moore  Brown  1779  a descriptive list of  Act of June for  9 -    Joseph Hlosmer  Supt. Intend.  1780  for 3 Yrs.  " " "  36 -  
  Nath l Dix - Cogswell  1778  from July 18 th to April 10 th 1779  9 -    ditto, Bedford, Watson  1779  April to Dec r 31 st for  9 -    a Descriptive list of Ar m y  1781  March 27. 19 Y rs old 5 7/8 high for  36 m o  
Sir,
The above Statement is taken from Memorandums which may not all be correct, but may serve to facilitate the the researches of the Books & rolls they allude to, and to prove the service of Abraham Merriam jun r . to intitle the Widow to a Pension. Your respectfull Servant,
Ebenezer Hlosmer.
James L. Edwards Esq., Commissioner of Pensions, Washington.
P.S Should there be any error or deficiency in the Case It will much oblige me by giving me notice, and of the result as soon as consistent.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15078
Hannah Merriam
Widow of Abraham Merriam
Pre Civil War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. M , Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Harrisburg Pa. Dec. 1. 1838
Dear Sir,
I beg leave to ask your attention to the enclosed papers, & should be glad to be informed of the result as early as may suit your convenience -
James L. Coleman Esq.

House of Rep. Apr. 14. 1838
Dear Sir
I beg leave to call your attention to enclosed papers at your earliest convenience
very respectfully
Richard F. Fletcher
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Boston April 7, 1838
Sir,
I address you in behalf of Hannah Merriam, an applicant for a pension as the widow of Abraham Merriam, and in reply to your communication in relation to her application, dated on February 7 th addressed to Hon. Richard Fletcher.
I send herewith a Copy of the record of her marriage with the date in words instead of figures, according to your suggestion, and also several affidavits.
You make two other objections to the allowance of the Claim, in regard to which I take the liberty to submit a few remarks, premising that I did not see the application before it was sent, and that the only evidence I have to refer to is some Minutes made by Cleaser Homer from books &c formerly at the State house here, now at Washington and a Copy which he kept of some of the affidavits sent to Washington.
The first objection is, that there were two persons, father and son, both named Abraham Merriam, and that as the evidence does not distinguish which of them was the person who served, it does not appear that Abraham, the son, served long enough to entitle his

Widow to a pension - I think an examination of the papers & books in your possession will show that Abraham Merriam, the son, must have served more than two years during the War. I find from Mr. Homer's Memoranda the following to have been the terms of service for which some person of the name of Abraham Merriam enlisted -
   Captains Colonels when enlisted Time claimed months     Moor Apr 28, 1775 to Aug 1 8 3   Richardson Poor June 28, 1778 to March 1779 - 9   Moor Brown June 9 1779 9   Col. Homer Superintendent for Middlesex Nov. 24, 1780 for 36   Nathan Dix Cogswell in the 9 mos book to April 1779 from July 18, 1778 9   Nathan Dix of Bedford Wesson April 1779 to Dec. 31 1779 9   Dix's descriptive list Mar. 27, 1781 - for 3 years - 36   19 yrs old 5 ft 4 in. high  
If we suppose the person or persons who were enlisted under the name of Abraham Merriam to have served the time of enlistment, we shall find that two persons of that name must have served each more than 24 months.
Thus we find One Abraham Merriam enlisted in Capt Richardson's Company in Poor's regiment June 28, 1778 for nine months; and that before that nine months had expired, to wit July 18, 1778 another person of the same name enlisted in Capt Dix's Company, Cogswell's regiment, for nine months. These services were simultaneous for 8 mos 10 days

to March 28, 1779, and both father & son, supposing them to have served for the period of enlistment, must have each served nine months. Again Abraham Merriam enlists in Moor's Company, Brown's regiment June 9, 1779 for 9 mos - and before that time expires another Abraham Merriam enlists in Dix's Company, Wesson's regiment from April 1779 to Dec. 31 1779, showing six months 22 days of simultaneous service, in which both father and son must have been engaged; and each, if they served for the whole time of enlistment, must have served nine months. Finally, one Abraham Merriam enlists Nov. 24, 1780, for 3 yrs, and the other in Dix's Company, Wesson's regiment March 27, 1781 for 3 yrs. Supposing the parties enlisted to have continued in the service till the end of the War, here was of itself two years 7 mos 7 days of simultaneous service to Nov 3, 1783, in which both father & son must have served, and one or the other of them 4 months & three days longer.
It is not necessary to show which was the father's and which the son's service, since it is demonstrated that each of them must have served during the war, if they served for the term of enlistment, a great deal more than two years.
The supposition that either of the Abraham Merriams kept deserting or getting

discharged before his term of service expired, and then re-enlisted, is not very probable.
I have not seen the books & papers referred to, but request you will examine them. You will find in Dix's descriptive list that the Abraham Merriam who enlisted Mar. 27, 1781, was Abraham Merriam, Junior of Bedford . This could not have been the father who was of Lexington . If this was Abraham, the son, the case seems made out for the widow. That it was he seems proved from two circumstances, his being mentioned as of Bedford , and his being marked as Junior .
The affidavits which were first sent on leave no doubt that Abraham Merriam, the son, served during a large part of the revolutionary war.
The other objection urged in your letter, is, that the person who enlisted for three years in 1781 could not be Abraham Merriam the son, because he is named as only 19 years old in the descriptive list, while Abraham, the son, was older. Abraham, the son, being born May 19, 1759 was between 23 & 24 at the time the descriptive list was made out.
This objection supposes there to have

been three persons in the service of the same name, two of them coming from the town of Bedford. But it seems to me far more probable that there was a mistake in the descriptive list, (such errors must occasionally occur) arising either from accident in transcribing, from the young man's not knowing his own age, or some other cause. The testimony that Abraham Merriam, the son, & the claimant's husband, did serve for a long time in the revolutionary war, is positive.
I send an affidavit of John Webber, a person who would have been likely to know if there had been any other person of the same name in Bedford, who states that to the best of his recollection no person by the name of Abraham Merriam, except the person who was married to Hannah Bowman, that  has ever lived in Bedford since his remembrance or for some years before the war of the revolution. He also states that he is seventy seven years old and has generally known all the male inhabitants of Bedford for sixty years. Webber is not at all likely to be mistaken in his recollection, as Bedford is one of the smallest towns in the state & probably did not contain one hundred grown men at the time of the revolution.
It is far more likely there is an error in the

descriptive list. The affidavit of Silas Richardson which I also send, who has examined the town records to ascertain whether the birth of any other Abraham Merriam is recorded, tends strongly to confirm the conviction that there was no other of that name in Bedford, and that there must have been an error in the age in the descriptive list.
I take the liberty farther to observe that at this distance of time there is great difficulty in procuring evidence and that the same evidence ought not to be required as to what took place more than half a century ago as to circumstances occurring within a few years, as to circumstances occurring within a few years. As Reuben Dacox who has taken the affidavit of John Webber as a justice of the Peace, is the same magistrate who took his affidavit before, I have not thought it necessary to send a new certificate of his being a justice.
Yours very respectfully
S. E. Sewall
( Report to the Hon. R. Fletcher H. R.

I John Webber of Bedford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do this second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. certify that. To the best of my recollection no person by the name of Abraham Merriam except the Person who was married to Hannah Bowmann has ever lived in Bedford since my remembrance or for some years before the war of the Revolution. I am Seventy seven years Old and have generally known all the male Inhabitants of the town for sixty years past.
Witness, James Webber
John Webber
Middlesex S s April 2 nd 1838 Then the above named John Webber Personally appeared and made solemn oaths that the above statement. by him Subscribed was true.
Before me Reuben Bacon Justice of the Peace

Hannah. Nemiam Mass. Adm l prf
Hon. R. Fletcher H.R.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT,
[Redacted] or and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Edward Everett
Know Ye, That John Merniam (and) William Chandler are justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex; — and Alden Bradford is a justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, (and that they have been so for the three months last past.)
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned, and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestation is are in due form, and by the proper Officers.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twenty ninth day of March, A. D. 1838, and in the sixty second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John P. Bangs Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Abraham Merriam and Hannah Bowman both of Bedford were Married April yr Sixth in the year one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy eight by Rev d Joseph Penniman a true copy as of Record of Births, Deaths, & Marriages in the Town of Bedford Book 1 st Page one hundred and fourteenth attest. Reuben Baron Clerk of the Town of Bedford
Middlesex S s March 26 th , 1838 Then Personally appeared the above named Reuben Baron and made Oath that the certificate of Record above by him subscribed is true Before Me John Merriam Justice of Peace
"William Merriam son of James Merriam & Abigail his wife was born December twenty third Seventeen hundred thirty four."
The above is a true copy from the records of Births, Deaths & Marriages in the town of Lexington Mass. Attest Charles Tidd, Town Clerk of Lexington
Abraham Merriam Son of Abraham Merriam (and Sarah his wife Born May the nineteenth Seventeen hundred and fifty seven."
The above is a true copy from the records of Births, Deaths & Marriages in the town of Lexington Mass Attest Charles Tidd, Town Clerk of Lexington Middlesex S s March 26 th 1838 Then Personally appeared the above named Charles Tidd & made oath that the two certificates by him signed are true copies from the records of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the town of Lexington. Before me William Chandler Justice of Peace

I Silas Richardson of Pittsfield in the County of Middlesex, gentleman, on oath do testify and say, That I am acquainted with Reuben Bacon of Bedford in said county, and that he is town Clerk of said town of Bedford, and that the certificate on the other side of this sheet purporting to be signed by said Reuben Bacon as such town Clerk was signed by him in my presence, that I am also acquainted with Charles Tidd of said Lexington in said county and that said Tidd is town Clerk of said town of Lexington, and that the two certificates signed by said Charles Tidd as such town clerk on the other side of this sheet, were signed by him said Charles Tidd in my presence. I further testify that I have examined the town records of the towns of Bedford and Lexington aforesaid, from the year seventeen hundred and twenty to the year seventeen hundred and seventy seventy five and that I find in them the births of no other persons of the name of Abraham Meriam, except the two mentioned in the two certificates of said Charles Tidd. I further testify that I am acquainted with John Meriam Esquire of said Bedford, and that the certificate on the other side of this sheet purporting to be signed by him, was signed by him in my presence: I am also acquainted with William Chandler of said Lexington, Esquire, and the certificate on the other side of this sheet purporting to be signed by said Chandler was signed by him said Chandler in my presence. Silas Richardson
State of Massachusetts, Suffolk ss On this twenty ninth day of March in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty eight, Silas Richardson above named perso-

nally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Suffolk Suffolk & dwelling in Boston —
and made solemn oath that the foregoing af- fidavit by him subscribed is true: and that I further certify that said Richardson is a person of truth and veracity, to whose testimony credit is to be given on oath — Ten words were interlined in said Richardson's affidavit, and one deleted, be- fore it was sworn to by him.
Alden Bradford Just. Peace for County of Suffolk