Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8029, for Robert Pearce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pearce, Robert
R. 8029
Mass. sea service
Elizabeth
Navy
S.C. sea service
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for entries
Blank lined area for entries

(2,422)
Massachusetts Roll
Robert Pearce
4
Sail maker
Ship Hancock - 1776 - 1781 Navy Tucker, Capt.
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 th of August 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th of Sept. 1818, and forwarded to S. Putnam Esquire Salem Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818. $ 2: 09 Semi-ann. all'co ending 4 Mar 1819. 48. 00 $ 50: 09 Ans 8 days.
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued Marblehead 4 March 1819 Marblehead Essex Co
Robert Pearce Salem Massachusetts Oct 18 1820

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, March 12 th 1853
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Glover Broughton and Thomas B. Newhall were Justices of the Peace for the County of Essex
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their 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 Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. C. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Mehitable Johnson on oath depose and say that I am Sixty four years of age, I was born and always resided in the Town of Marblehead in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts. I was well acquainted with Robert Pearce and his Wife Elizabeth Pearce, while they resided in Marblehead. Robert Pearce was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. He died about the year 1824 leaving a Widow, Elizabeth Pearce, who afterwards removed to Lynn the adjoining Town to this, where she now resides, and has resided ever since, and is still living the Widow of Robert Pearce.
Mehitable Johnson
Essex ss - State of Massachusetts
Marblehead March 10 th 1853
Then personally appeared the above named Mehitable Johnson, and made oath that the foregoing statements by her subscribed are just and true.
Before me. Glover Broughton Justice of the Peace.

I Joseph Selman, on oath depose and say, that I am fifty two years old, I was born in the Town of Marblehead, and always resided there until about eighteen years ago, I have since that time constantly resided in the City of Lynn. I was well acquainted with Robert Pearce and his wife Elizabeth Pearce of Marblehead while he was living. Said Pearce died in Marblehead about twenty nine years ago leaving his wife Elizabeth a widow. She resided in Marblehead until about eighteen years ago, when she removed to Lynn, and she is now living in the City of Lynn a widow having never been married since the decease of her husband Robert Pearce. Before said Pearce died, I have often heard him say, that he was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war,
Joseph Selman
State of Massachusetts
County of Essex } On this twelfth day of March A.D. 1853. The above named Joseph Selman made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Phoebe B. Newhall Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts County of Essex
Be it known that before me Thomas B. Newhall a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally appeared Elizabeth Pearce widow of Robert Pearce aged 82 1/4 years and made oath in due form of law, that she is the identical person named in an original Pension Certificate hereto annexed, No. _____ and bearing now lost, named Robert Pearce, who drew a Pension under the act of date the 1818. as follows "Robert Pearce 1896 per annum, due 1818. in Mass." Secretary of and that she now resides in
Lynn in said County and has resided there for the space of 18 years past—and that she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining any arrears of pension that may be due her, under the laws of the United States; and that by these presents she does constitute and appoint F. E. HASSLER, of the City of Washington, her true and lawful attorney, irrevocably, with power of substitution for her and in her name, place and stead, to ask and receive of and from the United States, any bounty land, extra pay, pensions, money or moneys that now is or are due her on account of services rendered by her deceased husband; advances made, property destroyed or taken by the Government, or any claim arising from intercourse between the United States and any foreign nation, and the Indians, disbursements made, or expenses incurred by him while in the service of the United States, or on any other account whatsoever, and in her name to give receipts and other sufficient discharges for such bounty land, pensions, patents, claims, and money due as aforesaid, and to attend to and prosecute any and all business of whatsoever nature she may have with or before any of the Departments of the Government or Congress, or any legally established commission of the United States, and, generally, to do any and every other act or acts that she might or could do, were she personally present at the doing thereof, she hereby ratifying, and confirming whatsoever her said attorney shall do in and about the premises, by virtue hereof, and is now living and a widow.
Signed, sealed and delivered } Two witnesses. in the presence of Joseph S. Woodbury Pratt Gordon
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of March 18 53
Elizabeth Pearce
State of Massachusetts , County of Essex ss.
On this third day of March 18 53 , personally appeared Elizabeth Pearce before me, and acknowledged the fore- going power of attorney to be her act and deed, for the purposes therein contained.
Thos B. Newhall J. P. Justice of the Peace

AND I HEREBY CERTIFY, that at the same time, personally appeared before me Joseph P. Woodbury and Ruth Goulon known to me, to be two credible witnesses, and who being duly sworn, deposes and says, each for himself, that the above named Elisabeth Pearce now present, is to their knowledge, the identical person named in the above deposition, and that the said affidavit is correct, as they verily believe; that they are acquainted with the said Elisabeth Pearce and that they are, each, wholly disinterested. amis au moins  Joseph P. Woodbury
Subscribed and sworn to before me, } upon the day and year first above written. }
Thos B. Newhall Justice of the Peace.
Ruth Goulon
State of } County of } ss:
I hereby certify, that
Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a _____ in and for the said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn, and authorized by law to take the same.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of _____ County Court, (a Court of Record,) this _____ day of _____ A. D. 185_____
Clerk.
*The Pension Certificate must be attached to this paper by a piece of tape passing through both, and the ends placed under the seal of the County Clerk, and if the evidence is taken before a Notary Public having a seal of office, the same, but then the County Clerk's certificate is not required.

(461) Revolutionary Claim of Elizabeth Widow of Robt. Pearce Pensylvania Mass
Act of 1853
May
Filed 16 March 1853 T. E. Hassler Washington

- State of Massachusetts - County of Essex -
Extract from the Records of the Town of Marblehead Marriage Solemnized by the Rev Samuel Dana
1811
Feb'y 10 - Robert Pearce and Elizabeth Butman both of this Town Marblehead March 4 th 1853
I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy from the Records of the Town of Marblehead - in the County of Essex -
Glover Broughton Town Clerk - and Justice of the Peace -
I Samuel Dana of Marblehead, in the County of Essex in the common- wealth of Massachusetts, Clergyman, do hereby on oath depose & testify, that I am seventy four years old; that I was pastor of the First Church in said Mar- blehead from 1801 to 1837; that I have examined the records of the town in the hands of Glover Broughton Esq., the Town Clerk, & find therein recorded the marriage of Robert Pearce & Elizabeth Butman, solemnized by me on the tenth of February, A.D. 1811, & that the record of said marriage is correct, Samuel Dana,
Essex ss. State of Massachusetts, Marblehead March 4 th 1853. Then personally appeared the above named Samuel Dana and made Oath that the above statement Subscribed by him, is just and true - Before me - Glover Broughton Justice of the Peace

Rob t Pearce 28 Aug
Admitted

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, That Robert Pease of Haverhill in the County of Essex in the Commonwealth aforesaid, doth make upon oath the following DECLARATION , to wit,
That he entered as a Salt Maker on board the U. States Schooner Franklin in Feby 1776 commanded by capt. Samuel Tucker, that he remained in said service until February 1777. in the American Revolutionary War and upon the Continental establishment ~
That the Declarant is infirm ; that from his reduced circumstances in life he is now in need of assistance from his country for support ; and that he hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States.
Robert Pease

OUR AFFIDAVIT.
I Nicholas Bartlett of Marblehead in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, Gentleman do on oath depose and testify,
That I was First Lieutenant in the Schooner Hancock, a Continental Armed vessel, under Capt. Samuel Tucker; we cruised on the Banks of New Foundland and in the Gulf Stream - I know that Robert Pearce within named served from Feb'y 1776 to Feb'y 1777 as the Sailmaker of the Schooner. He is now poor and indigent.
Nich s Bartlett
Subscribed: Aug t 21. 1878 Then Capt Nicholas Bartlett made Oath to the above before me
Br s Merrill Dist. Pac.

ADDITIONAL
PROOF.
I, John Tesher of Essex  Essex in the County of ESSEX, in the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Fisherman do on solemn oath testify and depose, as follows:—
That in the month of April 1776 I was transferred from the U States Schooner Franklin, during the American Revolutionary war, to the U States Schooner Hancock commanded by Capt. John Tucker, that when I went on board s d Schooner Hancock I found Robert Pease who subscribed the annexed declaration then a sail maker on board s d Schooner Hancock and I well knew that he well & faithfully served as a sail maker on board s d Schooner until the month of Feb y 1777, when s d Capt. Tucker took the command of a larger vessel, when all the crew of s d Hancock were discharged.
John Tesher
Essex Jn. July 10. 1818 Then John Tesher personally appeared and subscribed, and made solemn oath to the above affidavit.
Before me Ralph W. French Jur. Paris

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
On this twenty eighth day of July  August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen eighteen, personally appeared before me Samuel Putnam a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State
the aforementioned Robert Pearce  Lt Nicholas Bartlett and in my presence severally subscribed and made solemn oath to the aforeswritten declaration and AFFIDAVIT, by him  them  respectively made as aforesaid: — And appearing to my satisfaction, that the aforementioned Robert Pearce lived more than NINE MONTHS, to wit, from the last day of Feby A. D. 1776 to the first day of Feby A. D. 1777 at one period of the Revolutionary War, in the Continental Establishment, against the common enemy, I do hereby cer- tify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of War. Said Pearce is in indigent circumstances & needs assistance
Given under my hand, and the seal of the Court a- foresaid, at Salem , this 28 th day August of April , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. Putnam Just } S. J. Court of Mass t }

Rec d Peace 28 Aug
admitted
I certify that Samuel Putnam is a Judge of the Sup: Court of said State - That his Signature is genuine - the Seal of the Court aforesaid is affixed - Ralph H. French Esq r is a Justice of the Peace and his Signature is genuine and said Brj. Merrill is a Justice of the Peace and his Signature is genuine.
Attest
Ichabod Tucker Clerk

2422.
Robert Pearce
16 Sep 1818
Cont d 25 Sep 1820
[Faint, large, illegible cursive signature or scribble]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Robert Pearce resident in Marblehead — in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 2.422 — now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.”
“I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Robert Pearce — late a Sail Maker in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight — dollars per month, to commence on the twenty eighth day of September  August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen .”
***** * L. S. * *****
“Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ”
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,”
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Real Estate.
One undivided sixth part of a small dwelling house in said Marblehead with the land it stands upon — $30
Personal Estate.
1 Case Drawers $ 5. 1 small Looking glass 75 cts. 5.75 2 old Walnut tables $ 2. 8 old chairs $ 3.20 5.20 1 Chest $ 2. 1 small iron pot 20 cts. 1 broken tea kettle 10. 2.30 1 Fry kettle 40 cts. 1 pine writing Desk 75 cts. 1 D o . table $1.50 2.65 Old knives & forks 50. Crockery ware $1 1.50 whole amount of property $ 49.40
He is seventy years old. A Sail Maker by occupation — is crippled in one leg, has a wife aged fifty, and two children viz, John aged nine years, and Mehitable aged seven years — has been extremely unfortunate in his family by sickness — and has no income
Declarant entered the service in the year 1775 in

Glover's Regt. eight months. And all the year of 1776 part of the time in the navy with Capt. Tucker & Capt. Lee making in the whole one year and eight months -
Robert Pearce
Sworn to & declared before
W m Wetmore Judge within named.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. W m Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Robert Pearce do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Robert Pearce
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Robert Pearce took and subscribed the aforeswritten Oath before me
W m Wetmore
Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
forty seven dollars forty cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July , A. D.
1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

(2,422)

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim
I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES,
of the 18 th of March 1818
Robert Pearce late a Sail Maker in the
navy of the Revolutionary War is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of ten  Eight dollars and cents per month, to commence on the twenty eighth day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES, this Sixteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
J. C. Calhoun Secy of War

Prn Off Dec. 17/83
In this case Finney Clerk House of Representatives, was written to 11. Mar '83 for the paper - no answer has been received; but as the character of the service is decisive against the widows claim, Mr Hassell has been so informed, in a letter of of this day.

Washington D.C.
Dec. 25 th 1833
Hon. S. P. Waldo Comm t of Pensions Sir:
I beg leave to call the attention of the Pension Office to the claim of Elizabeth, widow of Robert Pearce a Revolutionary soldier, for a pension under the act of 1853. The claim was filed by me on the 16 th March last. Claimant resides in Massachusetts. It is stated that her husband was a pensioner on the Massachusetts Rolls.
I am, Sir,
Very Respectfully
Your Ob. Servt.
J. E. Hassler

Hon. J. W. Forney, Clerk, House of Reps.
May 14, 1853.
The papers and documents upon which Robert Pearce of Mass. was pensioned under Act of 18 Mch., 1818, were enclosed on the 7 th Feb., 1827, to the Hon. B. W. Browning—shield of the H. of Reps. to be laid before the Committee on Pensions. The widow of Pearce is applying under the Act of Feb. 3, 1853, & these papers are now wanted in the consideration of her case.
Be pleased to return them if they are to be found in your office—
H. E. Hassler, Esq., Present.
Dec. 17, 1853
Mrs. Eliz th Pearce is not entitled to a pension under the Act of 3 Feb., 1853, as her husband, Robert, served in the Navy as a Sail-maker, and such service is not provided for by the Act, which is limited to service in the Army.
Hon. Chas. W. Upham H. of Reps.
Jan. 25 1854
In answer to the within letter of Jas. G. Phelps Esq. of Salem, enclosed in yours of the 23 rd inst., I have to reply that on the 17 th Dec. last, a letter from this office was addressed to H. E.

Hassler of Washington, informing him that under the Act of 3 Feb., 1853, as it now stands , which provides only for widows of those who served in the " army " of the Revo- lution, Mrs. Eliz th Pearce being the widow of Robert who was a sailor-maker (and therefore did not serve in the army) is not entitled to a pension— Very resp t —

File Mr Crowninshield's letter among the receipts, when the papers are sent to him.

Office House of Reps. U.S.
Wm L P Waldo Chairman of Sensus
May 17 1833 Robt. Pierce New York

Robert Dyer

War Department, Pension Office, 7 th Feb y 1827.
Sir,
In reply to your request of yesterday, I herewith transmit to you, the papers which were filed in this Office, in support of Robert Pearce's claim to a pension.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Yr. Obt. Servt.
J. L. Edwards
Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, House of Representatives.

Sir,
St. Reps Feb 6. 1822.
The Com tee on Pensions require the documents in relation to Rob t Pierce of Marblehead, I will thank you to enclose them to me & I will hand them to the Com tee ,
This will be a receipt for them.
I am, respectfully,
J. H. Brownchild Mr. C.
J. L. Edwards Pension Office Dear Dept. —

Rob Pierce Mah Al June
Oct 27. Mass Rob Pierce, 8 mo. 75 Trenton Co James L Washington (District of

Oct 27.
Mass
4 Robert Pierce,
8 mo. 75
Trenton Cr
10 1/2 =
James L. Edwards Esq. Washington City. District of Columbia.
FREE

M. L. D. Jan y 6 th
4
To
Am. P. La. 2 \frac{31}{27}
The Hon Ben o W. Crowninshield Member of Congress Washington.

Rec d 13 Jan. 1827
Washington
Member of C
Hon Benj o to Comm
Am. P. 2 \frac{3}{4}  \frac{23}{25}

Methuen Jan. 9. 1827.
Sir
I take the liberty to inclose to you the proper citation to that poor, old, distressed man, who call d on the President of your House in Salem. The President appeared to take great interest in his case, and said he would do all for him he could, if he would send his papers by you & c - Mr. Seaver is entirely penniless, and could not possibly travel or ride to any Court to make oath to his affidavit schedule, as is now req. used in similar cases. - Perhaps if you should represent his case to the President & Secretary the matter be restored to his pension without laying it before Congress. Judge Story also promised his assistance - He knows Mr. Seaver and that he is deserving - Do him the goodness to interest yourself a little in the matter & you will confer a great favour upon a very poor man - Mr.

Piety vouchers & may be found in the Secretarys Office -
Yrs most respectfully,
A. H. French
Wm B. W. Cunninham
A stylized signature consisting of a large, elongated oval shape with a small, dark, circular mark in the center, likely representing the initials or a personal mark of the signatory.

8029
P. O. 30
Elizabeth Pearce
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Let to James Marble head Jan'y 18. '47.
Not entitled, not having served on the continental establishment. See letter to Agent March 20. 1821, and May 24. 1824, and Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, H. R. May 24. 1824, & 13 Jan. 1827. — The original declaration & schedule in this case, was sent to Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, 7 Feb. 1827.

No 461
Eliz m Pearce widow of Robert - Massachusetts Act 3 February 1853
1853 May 14 Sit to J. W. Fowey Clerk H.R. " Dec 17 " " T. E. Hassler ✓ '54 Jany 25 " " Hon C. W. Upham
8029

Marblehead, January 4 th 1847.
Honored Sir:
I am very earnestly requested (as will be seen by the witnessed signature of the widow on the back of this) by Mrs. Elizabeth Pearce, a very respectable old woman of the adjoining town of Lynn, but always until recently an inhabitant of this town - to address an enquiry to your Honor in her behalf. And although I do not believe it can result in any pecuniary advantage to her, yet I cannot well resist the importunity of the widow and her friends thus to address the inquiry.
She is the widow of Robert Pearce, who died in this town in 1826, and who was pensioned 16 th of Sept. 1818, as a Sailmaker of the Continental Navy, and who was dropped from the roll in 1821, with this endorsement against his name - as it stands on the Massachusetts printed Pension Roll: - - "Dropped from roll. Sailmaker. Not provided for by this act"
If Pearce had lived until the passage of the Act of June 7 th , 1832, it is obvious he might have availed himself of its provisions for service as a "Sailmaker", but as he lived but about five years after he was dropped from the

I, Elizabeth Pearce, widow of the within named Robert Pearce, now a resident of Lynn, in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, but formerly a resident of Marblehead, in said County, do hereby certify that I have requested the within named James Gregory to make the enquiries contained in the within letter in my behalf.
Witness to the signature of Elizabeth Pearce Joseph Goodwin
Elizabeth Pearce
Roll, as his widow was not married to him early enough to claim a continuous Pension, under these circumstances nothing can be due her in his rights, unless it be that the decision which was made against his claim under the Act of 1818, was afterwards so far altered or revised as to admit a claim for services as Sailmaker under that Act, or any other in force at the time of his decease in 1826, or which afterwards passed and extended retrospectively to that date.
The enquiry, therefore, which I am instructed to make is - was the decision which was made against Pearce for having served as "Sailmaker" only, so far revised or altered before his decease, by any new decision or new law or provision, that his widow, on proving herself such, may now claim anything in the nature of arrears of Pension or otherwise -

— for what he did entitled to and never received — he never having been again Pensions after his name was dropped from the roll as a pensioner?
An early answer will much oblige the party interested.
I am, with very great respect Your Honor's humble servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Robert Pierce
January 29 th 1827 Ref d to the Committee on Military Pensions
Feb. 14 - 1827 Bill reported - No. 436.
Allowed 8 Jan y 29 1827
Crowninshield 10. Pensions

To the Hon. the Senate and the Hon. the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.
The Petition and representation of Robert Pierce of Marblehead in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts respectfully shews that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and in the year 1775 he enlisted into Col. Glover's Regiment & was there eight months. Afterwards he entered as a Seaman and Sail Maker on board the Schooner Hancock commanded by Capt. Tucker upon the Continent- al establishment, continued on board s d Schooner cruising in Gulf Stream & else where for about thirteen months. Afterwards in 1777 he shipped on board the Brig Fanny Capt. J. Lee Masters and in about seven weeks was taken and carried to England & was there confined in Mill Prison for three years. Was afterwards exchanged, and shipped on board the Sloop South Carolina for twenty months, and did not return to his family until the end of the war in 1783.
And your Petitioner further represents that he is now seventy seven years of age reduced to extreme poverty, confined to his house & the greater part of the time to his bed by reason of lameness & the decipi- tude of age. That he has no child or friend able to contribute to his necessities, and that he is not able to travel or present himself before any court to make his representation.

or declaration in such cases made & provided.
Wherefore he humbly prays that his name may be restored to the Pension List, & that he may be entitled to receive what has been withheld from him since his name was stricken from the list of Pensioners, and as in duty bound will ever pray -
Yours Most Obedient Servant
Wadsworth Jan'y 9. 1827.

We the Subscribers Selectmen and Overseers of the poor of the Town of Middlehead in the County of Essex Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that Mr. Robert Pierce of this place is a very honest, upright man, and has been a very industrious prudent man, but for many years past has thro' sickness and the infirmities of age been unable to attend to any kind of business, & is thereby reduced to extreme poverty. He was originally placed on the List of Pensioners, but for what reason his name was stricken from the list we know not. We believe that Mr. Pierce was a very active and usefull man in the Revolutionary War, a most firm friend to his Country - his sufferings were great, and his services highly meritorious. Mr. Pierce is now sick, decrepid & pennyles, and in all probability before many years or perhaps months he will be gone where his countrys grat- itude & bounty cannot reach him.
Middlehead Jan'y. 1. 1827.
J. Sparhawk W Elliot Joseph W Green } Selectmen of Middlehead.
Isaac Holley Nich d Brougham Rich d Homan Wm Hawkes } Overseers of the poor of Middlehead.