Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 8238, for Joseph Peirce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pierce, Joseph Pierce or Joseph
79 8238
CONTENTS

Joseph Peirce  27. 57 1
Agent A Gould Auburn NY

State of New York
Cayuga County ss On this 28 th day of September 1833 personally appeared before me first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County Joseph Pierce of Brutus in said County aged Seventy eight years & upwards who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That he entered the service under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was born in the town of Rochester in the County of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts in the year 1755 as he believes and has now no record of his age - that he once had a record of his age but lost the same whilst removing from New Bedford to Cayuga County aforesaid - that he continued to live in Rochester aforesaid until he was forty years of age. He further says that when first called into service he lived at Rochester aforesaid and continued to reside there during the Revolutionary war - that in the month of July 1775 he enlisted into a company of Massachusetts State troops comman- =ded by Capt Abial Pierce, Lieut Amos Washburn =rn & Ensign John Miller - in the Regiment comman- =ded by Col Partridge for a term of seven months. that the name of his Adjutant was Sprout - that he marched first to Roxbury near Boston where he joined the American Army & continued stationed there about five months when he marched with said Regiment to Dorchester Point where he was stationed until his term of service expired when he was discharged and returned home - that he was at Roxbury at the time of the battle of Bunker hill - but
P No

was not called upon to engage in said Battle He further says that in the month of August 1778 he was drafted and entered said service in the company of militia commanded by Capt Joseph Packer, Lieut John Miller, & Ensign Hammond in the Regiment commanded by Colonel, Cotton for a term of two months, that he marched from Rochester and joined the army of Gen Sullivan destined against New port. that he joined said army at Fall River and marched with said army on to the Island of New Port to a place called Quaker hill where he was stationed at the time of the battle, from thence he retreated with said Army across Howlands Ferry to the main land at and near which place he was stationed until discharged at the expiration of said two months. He further says that in the latter part of October in the same year he again entered said service as a volunteer in the company of militia commanded by Capt Barnabas Doty Lieut Abraham Holmes, & Ensign Jabez Cottle for a term of one month - that he marched to a place called Fogland Ferry in the State of Rhode Island where he was stationed as a guard for the shore during said term of one month, that there was no Regiment stationed at that place, only a detachment of troops to guard said shore and had not field officers. He further says that at the time New Bedford was burned by the enemy he again entered said service as a volunteer in the company of militia commanded by Capt Willard Clark. Lieut John Stevens, & Ensign Thomas Whittredge, in the Regiment commanded by Col Ferrin & Major Spooner for a term of one month and a half that he marched to New Bedford after said where he was stationed during the whole of said
2 mo
1 mo
1.15

term - that the enemys fleet lay off at some distance and a detachment was sent on shore in Baiges & Row Gallies, to burn said place. after which said detachment returned to the fleet. But said fleet continued to lie off some distance from shore for some time and the troops were kept stationed at that place to watch their motions and prevent their again effecting a landing. that he was engaged in a skirmish with the enemy at New Bedford which was the only battle in which he was engaged - that all the troops at New Bedford were militia from the surrounding country and commanded by militia officers. that in the expedition under Gen Sullivan he saw and knew Gen Sullivan and was attached to a continental Regiment commanded by Col Ferrin, and continued to serve with said Regiment until he was discharged as he believes - that whilst at Roxbury he saw & knew Gen Lee. Gen Putnam & Gen Washington who was at Cambridge at the time. Gen Parsons & others that he received a written discharge from said first (seven months) term of service but lost the same twenty years ago - and that he never received any other written discharge from said service and has no documentary proof of said service - that he has not the testimony of any living witness to said service and cannot procure it - that when he was about forty years of age he removed from Rochester to New Bedford where he continued to reside until about 16 years ago when he removed to the said County of Cayuga where he has resided ever since. That Joseph  His co-pastor a clergyman resident in his neighbourhood and Abner Lee of the same town. He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension of Brutus, also resided in his neighbourhood that

they are both well acquainted with him and can testify as to their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution and his character for truth and veracity
He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or territory Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
J. L. Richardson Joseph Peirce Just Judges of Pleadings
We Joseph Hiscock a clergyman residing in the Brutus in the County of Cayuga and Abner Lee of the same place do certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Peirce who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age and upward that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion - Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid Joseph Hiscock Abner Lee J. L. Richardson Just Judges of Pleadings
And the said Judge do hereby declare his opinion after an investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the said Joseph Peirce was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and he further says that it appears to his satisfaction that Joseph Hiscock who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing

certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Brutus in the County of Cayuga and Abner Lee who has also signed the same is a resident of said town and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - and he further certifies that said Joseph Pierce is unable to attend court by reason of old age and bodily infirmity -
J. L. Richardson for Joseph Pierce
State of New York Cayuga County
I Michael S Myers Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of Joseph L Richardson in the matter of the application of Joseph Pierce for a pension, that the said Joseph L Richardson before whom the foregoing declaration & certificate were made & by whom the foregoing certificate was made was on the day of the date of the same first Judge of said Court - that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge and believe his signature to the said declaration and certificate to be genuine - Witness my hand and seal of office the 28 th day of September 1833
M. S. Myers Clerk By A. L. Miller his Deputy

New York. add. evidence for Joseph Pierce 11. Jan. 9. 1834 for
TR 12
Hon James I Edwards Court of pensions Washington D.C.

Dubun N.Y Jan'y 4 1884
Sir
Enclosed I send you the certificate of E D Bangs as to the services of Joseph Paine. It establishes the fact that he performed service during the war. but owing to the imperfection of the rolls his services are not all found there. How far his declaration will agree with the certificate I am unable to state in as much as I have no access to the declaration or a copy of it.
I presume that in the date of his different terms of service there will be a discrepancy for the reason that many years have elapsed since the service was performed, and the memory of old men is constantly failing.
I hope you will give the affair an examination and allow his claim. If any further explanation is wanting please advise me.
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt J Gould
Hon J L Edwards
2,176 5 9 3,190

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Decem r 30 th 1833.
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 Joseph Pierce as a Private is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Joseph Parker's Company, in Col. John Cushing's Regt. where he is allowed from Sept 19 th 1776. two Months m d 2= Joseph Pierce's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Iabez Cottle's Company, in Col. Ebenezer Sprouls' Regt. where he is allowed from Decem r 8 th 1776. fifteen days. ————— = 15 Joseph Pierce's name as a Corporal is borne on a Return of Capt. Adam Wheeler's Company, Commanded by Col. Thomas Vixon. who were enlisted and in Camp. on or before the 15 th of August 1777." no time of service mentioned Joseph Pierce's name as a private is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Iabez Cottle's Company, in Col. Sprouls' Regt. where he is allowed from May 6 th to the 7 th 1778 two days. ————— = 2 Joseph Pierce's name is borne on a Pay Roll

of Capt. Barnabas Doty's Company, in Col. Sprouts Regt. m. where he is allowed from Sept 5 th to Sept 11 th 1778. Six days.
Joseph Pierce's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Joseph Willmarth's Company, in Col. Thomas Carpenter's Regt. where he is allowed from July 28 th to the 31 st 1780. for services and travel five days. — — —
Joseph Pierce's name as a Corporal is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Barnabas Doty's Company, where he is allowed from July 30 th  1780 to August 8 th 1780. Nine days. — — — — —
Joseph Pierce claims for services under Capt Abial Pierce in 1776. the Pay Roll of Capt Abial Pierce's Company in 1776. is not found in this Office the Milage Roll is found but the name of Joseph Pierce is not borne on it. —
Joseph Pierce claims for services under Capt John Parker in 1778. the rolls of which are not found in this Office. —
Edward D. Bangs, Secy

New York Rev.
Joseph Pierce
Suspended
let. A Gould 15
Nov. 33.
let. to same 10. May 1834.
" to R Galt Aug 17 '46.
8238
Act. 7 June '32

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8238
P. O.
Joseph Pierce
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

June 24. 46
Rev. James L. Edwards, My
10
James L. Edwards Comm te of Pensions, Washington City D.C.

Wellsport, N.Y. June 18, 1866
Sir,
Yours of June 11th, in relation to the widow and heirs of John Street has been duly recd. — I wrote to You some three months since in relation to a Claim of Benjamin Doroty or Dorothy but have recd. no answer. He alleges, that he Entered the Service of the late War in Sept th 1812 for five Years or during the War and served in the 15th Regt. Light Infantry, under Capt y Garry. Was Under Command of Col l Miller at the Taking of Port George, that he served until June 1815 and was then discharged and that there is Bounty Land and some pay due him which he has never recd. He was discharged at Greenbush by Col l Miller in June 1815. Will You please inform me
The heirs of Joseph Piser, alleges, that he applied, through Amos Gould, for a pension for his Revolutionary services, some 13 or 14 Years since. Will You please inform me what was done in his case, and whether the heirs are entitled to what would have been his due at the time of his death.
The Widow of James Houghkling, a Revolutionary Soldier alleges, that her husband's name was placed on the pension roll a number of Years since, but died about a month before he could draw his money; Will You please inform me, and what cause she must pursue to obtain it. She is very poor. Please inform me what cause the heirs of Joseph Piser must pursue.
I am Sir, respectfully Yours
Robt Galt J. L. Edwards Court of Claims Washington City D.C.