Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8614, for William Ray, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Privateer (Mass.)
Ray, William Rachel.
P. 8614
CONTENTS

W 4146 Rachel Ray
July 4. 1850
Me act. 4 July '36 Involuntary
8614

State of Maine ss, On this seventh day of November A.D. 1838 before the Hon. Alvin E. Talbot Judge of the Court of Sessions in and for the County of Washington, State of Maine, personally appeared Rachel Ray of Harrington in the County of Washington and State of Maine aged Eighty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 11 th 1836 - that she is the widow of William Ray late of Harrington aforesaid, who was Captain of the Public armed vessel (Privateer) called the "Mercury Sheet" during the Revolutionary war, and continued in said service as Commander aforesaid for four or five years, and during this time was in an engagement with the British armed vessel, called the "John Bull" near Sable Island, and that said Ray was principally employed in cruising along and guarding the coast and carrying prisoners to the army - The Mercury Sheet carried five decided as well as small arms - The said Ray's name was upon the list containing a particular account of all the services, and of the severances, which took place during the time he was engaged and employed in the service of the army and that said Ray has been but one

distressed - The petition declares that she was married to the late William Ray on the twentieth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight; that her husband the above-named William Ray died on the first day of June eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and that she has since that period no will made fully appear by reference to the probate here to annexed.
Witness my hand and seal Rachel X Ray Mark
Proven to and subscribed on the day and year before written,
Before
J. C. Tuttle,

I Daniel Small of Harrington County of Washington State of Maine do hereby and say that I was well acquainted with Capt William Ray Cole of said Harrington deceased and know that he was Commander of the public armed vessel, called the "Mercury ship" during the Revolutionary war, - and while I was stationed at Machias or or Pelandia I was detached to go on board said vessel while said Ray had the command of her and did go on board and remain on or board some months under his command and in their time went to Boston for Government stores, and brought them to Machias - How long said Ray continued in said vessel I can not say, - I further testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with Rachel Ray of said Harrington, the widow of said William Ray and have been acquainted with her over seventy years, and know that she is the widow of the said said William Ray who commanded the vessel, called the

The " Merry Sheet ", during the Revolutionary war and that she was once said to be the same William Ray before or during the time she had the command of said vessel. The said Rachel Ray was at Boston said vessel and went to Boston with her husband at the time I was employed on board of the " Merry Sheet " as a foreman - and I further certify that said said Rachel Ray has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband William Ray.
20015
Friend Small
Washington J Nov 15 1820
Respectfully & soon to
Before me
W. H. Allen J. Peace
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named Daniel Small and that his statement is entitled to full credit.
W. H. Allen
Q Q

I Eliza Ponder of Johnson, Giles County of Washington, State of Maine Certify and say that I was well acquainted with Capt William Ray Cole of Harrington in said County deceased and was acquainted with him for an five years before he was married and from that time till his death which took place about twelve years ago - The said William Ray and myself married sisters - I know that he was Commander of the public armed vessel called the "Merry Shear" during the Revolution ary war and was employed in carrying Government stores from Boston to Machias and cruising on the coast - The vessel carried five or eight swivels - I know that he was in said vessel two seasons, but how much longer I cannot now definitely recollect - He had the command of her in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight - I further certify that I am well ac- quainted with Rachel Ray of Har- rington the widow of the said William Ray and was present at her marriage with the said William Ray, which took place on what was called "the old neck" now in Harrington and in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven according to my the best of my recollection - I am certain however that he was in command of the "Merry Shear" after her said marriage and remember the time when the said Rachel Ray went

le. Boston with her said husband in said Chapel a. described to be Daniel Small - I have been intimately acquainted with the said Rachel Ray ever since her marriage onwards and know that she is the widow of the identical William Ray she was, the Commander of the Chapel called the Mersey Street a. afterwards, and that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband William Ray -
Abigail Small
Washington Jan 16 1820
Then was subscribed and
sworn to
Before me
J. Fullam
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Eliza Small, who is one of the most respectable Citizens of Kensington and that his state- ment under oath is entitled to full credit.
J. Fullam

Joseph Wallace of Harrington in the County of Washington State of Maine Berkely and say that I was well acquainted with Captain William Ray late of said Harrington deceased and was acquainted with him during the Revolutionary war and know that he was employed in the public service during said war. — He was at first employed as a Soldier and was at Ma- chias, but how long he was there I do not at exactly recollect — He afterwards took command of the Pennsylvania "Merry Sheet" a Government Vessel which cruised about the Shore — She was engaged in the State (Massachusetts) service as I think, and employed in carrying stores to the Troops and Indians at Machias — Captain Ray had in the command of said Personnel for at least two years according to the best of my re- collection. I have seen his Commis- sion as Commander of said Vessel which came on I think from the State of Massachusetts — It is my impression that Hancock's name was on it — I remember it was very much defaced by black ink and it was

told by Capt. Ray that he spilled accidentally a bottle of ink over over it - after the first Com was granted he was in hope to ob- tain a pension, and I heard him say that he was afraid the injury thus done to the Com- mission might occasion some diffi- culty or dispute, as the signers names if I mistake not were very much blotted. I closed during the war and at the time Capt. Ray had command of the "Merry Shear" at the mouth of Nanaguagus river when I often saw her - One night he had an engagement with a British armed vessel from Halifax bound to Caroline where the British Troops lay there - I saw from the shore the flash of the guns. Capt. Ray died before the pension Com. of 1832 passed - I further certify and say that I am well acquainted with Rachel Ray of said Harrington the widow of the said William Ray, and know that she was the wife

of said William Ray at the time he had the command of the ship Pohono. The "Cherry sheet" - In the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine as one of his passengers he recalls she was with him on board said vessel She was in the month of December and on his return around the March he had the engagement before mentioned - Having known them from my childhood and been a neighbor to them for more than fifty years I can truly and positively say that Hannah Rachael Ray is the widow of the said William Ray the Commander of the "Cherry sheet" as aforesaid and that she has continued a widow even since the death of her said husband, William Ray.
Yrs. Wallace
20 Washington Dec 20 1938
Subscribed & sworn to the above day & year
Before me
M. Hallman Not Public

I hereby certify that I am per- sonally acquainted with the within named Joseph Wallace and that his state- ment under oath is entitled to full credence.
J. H. [unclear]
[Signature]
Michael Ray

I the subscriber Register of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains all the proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Rachael Ray for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 26th day of November A.D. 1845.
Albert G. Lane

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
8619
P. O.
Rachel Ray
Service:
wid. of William
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Wachias Me. Nov. 26th. 1838.
James S. Edwards Esq.
Sir
At the request of Mr. Freeman I send you herewith 4 applications for Pensions. The certificates if any are granted to be sent to William Freeman Esq. Cherryfield Maine, who is the Attorney for the applicants.
Yours Respectfully
Albert G. Lane

X Me Oct 4 July 36
Rejected
See A. S. S. A. A. p. 1 to W. Freeman.
Aug. 19. 1839 -