Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19983, for William Peirce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Peirce, William or Pearce
N 19983.
Phebe
CONTENTS

Let to Hon L Gass, Jan 23. 1836
Application sent to Abraham Duglow Esq r 22 d September, 1820. Cambridge, Massachusetts
7778
Massachusetts
William Purie of Maltham in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Vose of the Massachusetts line, for the term of three Years War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 st of March 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th of March 1819 and sent to William Wetmore Esquire Salem Mass.
Arrears to 4 th of March 1819 $ 89.28 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 th Sept 1819  48.
$137.28
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued

4299 Massachusetts Phebe Peirce * widow of William who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Feb 1849 and sent to G. J. Bulfinch Boston Mass
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 124 Vol. 2
Peirce *

Pierce 798 Thebe Pierce widow of William Mass.
Act. of July 38
5 years married in 1790 Died in 1825
about 2 years pri 80 $
no deduction
Isaac Fiske Cambridge Mass
Handwritten scribbles

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows,"
State of Massachusetts, } County of Middlesex } ss
On this twenty first day of August A.D. eighteen hundred thirty eight
Phebe Pierce personally appeared before the judge of the court — of the Probate for said County a resident of Waltham in the county of Middlesex aged seventy 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 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of William Pierce who was a * Private Soldier in the first regiment of the Massachusetts line of the Revolutionary Army Commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose , In the company of Capt John Williams . Brigade Commanded by General Patterson . That he enlisted the beginning of seventeen hundred and eighty , for three years , and terminated his service in December seventeen hundred and eighty three , by an honorable discharge signed by Maj. General Knox . And that he was a pensioner, under the Act of 1818 at $96- per annum.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Pierce on the Twenty first day of May in the year seventeen hundred and ninety ; that her husband, the aforesaid William Pierce died on the fourth day of September in the Year of our Lord 1825 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz. : at the time above stated.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me,
Phebe Pierce
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year first above written — J. P. Hays Jdg of Prob.
* Here insert the rank the husband held in the army, navy, or militia, as the case may be, and specify the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations.

In order to obtain the truth of the matter of the 7th July, 1851, entitled "An Act for the better administration of justice in the Colony of New Zealand."
Commenced at the City of Auckland Wednesday 1st
I Isaac Birk President of the Court of Probate in and for the Colony of New Zealand hereby certify that Lord Birk has been sworn in the judge of said Court and that his signature as now written is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the year Eighteen hundred & fifty eight
Isaac Birk
Isaac Birk
She further states that she was married to the said William Birk on the 10th day of March 1851 at the residence of the said William Birk in the City of Auckland. That she was not married to any other person at the time of her marriage with the said William Birk. That she was not married to the said William Birk until after the death of the said William Birk's first wife. That she was not married to the said William Birk until after the death of the said William Birk's first wife. That she was not married to the said William Birk until after the death of the said William Birk's first wife.
Here insert the text of the husband's will in the event of his death, or if he has already died, the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations.

5 William Pierce Waltham
7770
March 1819 Cont. Taper w a 7820

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1820
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
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, William Peirce resident at Waltham in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 7778 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, William Peirce late a
Private 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 first day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
“ Given at the War Office of the United States, this seventeenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and nineteen ”
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,
 “ 6 old Chairs $ 1  1 old Desk 1  2 Chests 2  2 small looking Glasses 2 50  Crockery ware 1  2 Iron Pots 1 50  1 old brass Kettle 1  $ 10 
The said Peirce has no other property either real or personal than no debts due to him from any person He is now sixty two years of age by profession a Farmer he has a wife fifty seven years of age and one child seven years of age, very feeble, which he provides for, said Peirce and his wife are both

feeble in health and unable to do but little labour He enlisted in the forefront of the year 1780 in Capt Williams Company, Col Dose's Regt Massachusetts line for the term of three years and served to the close of the war when he was honourably discharged W m Peirce.
Sworn to and declared, before W m Wetmore Judge etc

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
" I, William Peirce 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.
Wm Peirce
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Wm Peirce took and subscribed the aforeswritten Oath before me,
Wm Wetmore Judge of said Court. //
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, 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 ten dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20th day of July 1820.
Attr.
Abraham Biglow 3

Wm Pire
P. 0,00
Col J. Vose's Regt. Massachusetts Line 1780. — 3 years
Admitted.

State of Massachusetts
I William Pierce Parsons a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Waltham in the County of Middlesex in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & eighty
I entered and was engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the twenty fourth day of December in the year one thousand seven hundred eighty three as a private soldier against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence: that I belonged to the first regiment of the Massachusetts line of the Revolutionary Army, commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose, in the company of Capt. John Williams, & the brigade commanded by General Patterson and that I left the service on the said twenty fourth of December as by my certificate of discharge herewith exhibited may appear and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of fifty eight years upwards, while in the army I practiced on the occupation of a barber
And I hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
W m Pierce
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this thirty first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me Re J. H. Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within the State aforesaid
Presiding Judge has since the abovenamed William Pierce and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination duly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my name & the seal of said Court the witness hereunto being credible and disinterested.
W m Wetmore

We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Waltham do testify & say that we are well acquainted with Wm Purse subscribe to the within written declaration, & know him to be a man of truth & veracity, & that dependence may be had on his declaration - we also testify, that his circumstances in life are such as to require the assistance of his country for his support, having a family of  children , dependent on him for support, & without real or personal estate, obtaining his living by daily labor
Elizabeth Hastings Isaac Berridge
Sworn to March 31. 1848.
before me Wm Wetmore the Judge within named

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Middlesex, Waltham August 18 th , 1838.
I the subscriber do hereby certify, that it appears by the registry of marriages in the Town of Waltham, that there is therein contained the following entry of marriage viz;
May the twenty first, seventeen hundred and ninety, William Pierce and Phebe Manning, both of Waltham, were joined in marriage,
Pr. Leonard Williams, Justin Pease That it (the above) is a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record, in fair legible figures, as follows, viz.
May 21, 1790, William Pierce and Phebe Manning, both of Waltham, were joined in marriage,
Pr. Leonard Williams, Justin Pease
Jesse G. Ganger, Town Clerk
I Jesse G. Ganger above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in Waltham, County of Middlesex and Commonwealth aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the record of Mar- riages in said Waltham, with the exception above named as certified by me,
Jesse G. Ganger. Town Clerk
Middlesex ss. Waltham August 18 th , 1838.
The above named Jesse G. Ganger, personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of the above certificate, by him subscribed,
Before me
Abad Moore { Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middletown ss. I Isaac Pitkin Deputy of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex hereby certify that Andrew Morey's sign is a true copy of the same within and for said County, duly acknowledged & qualified & that his signature within written is his genuine signature; Also certify that Samuel Morey's sign is the sign of said Court & that his signature written to the following certificate is his genuine signature;
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight Isaac Pitkin Reg.

I George Peirce of Boston in the County of Suffolk, aged thirty seven, do testify & say, that William Peirce late of Waltham in the County of Middlesex was my father; he was a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of Congress of 1818; the said William Peirce died on the fourth day of September in the year Eighteen hundred & twenty four; I was present when he died; — I further testify that Phebe Peirce, who is about to make application for a Pension under the act of Congress of July 7, 1838 is the widow of said William Peirce, & that she has never been married since the death of her aforesaid husband the said William Peirce.
George Peirce
Middlesex ss. Aug. 21 st 1838. Personally appeared George Peirce, a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me
J. P. Pay J. P.

Mas. County of Middlesex East Cambridge
August 22, 1838
James Edward Fry.
When you enclosed an envelope & decided upon please to communicate to me.
Respectfully yours
Isaac Fisher

4954
Sheba Pearce
$80
Mrs Bulfinch Boston Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss Middlesex County }
Be it known that on this
Twenty second day of November 1843. personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the Peace in and for said County and Commonwealth Mrs. Phebe Pierce a resident of Waltham in the County of Middlesex aged Seventy seven 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 on the 3 d day of March 1843. granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the Widow of William Pierce who was a Private in the Revolutionary War and served as she verily believes as stated by her in her original declaration for a pension under the law of the 7 th July 1838 to which declaration and the papers accompanying the same now on file in the War Department, she would refer for a more particular statement of his services, for the proof of her marriage, identity, and the time of her husband's death. =
She further declares that she was pensioned under said Act at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum which amount she received from the 4 th of March 1836. to the 4 th of March 1841. at the Agency in Boston Massachusetts, and at the time of her receiving her last payment surrendered the Pension Certificate granted to her under said Act to the Pension Agent at the said City of Boston agreeably to the rules of the Department. =
And this declarant further alleges that she has not intermarried since the decease of her said husband but is now and ever since has been the Widow of said William Pierce deceased as will more fully appear by the proof hereto annexed.
And further she saith not.
Phebe Pierce

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first within written and I certify that the applicant is personally known to me to be the person within described.
Before me, Garvis Lewis,
Justice of the Peace.
I Ephraim Allen of Waltham in the County of Middlesex of lawful age on oath testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Mrs. Phebe Pierce the applicant named in the within declaration for many years last past. I know that she was the wife and is now the Widow of William Pierce deceased who was reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and that she was a pensioner under the law of 7 th July 1838. as stated by her.
Ephraim Allen
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Nov. 22 nd , 1843. Middlesex County }
Then came Ephraim Allen who is known to me to be a credible witness and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is strictly true. =
Before me
Garvis Lewis, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston November 27 th 1823
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Jarvis Lewis was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned: and that to his 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.
Geo. A. Dole
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Lexington March 15 1790.
Pr please to pay John Brinhonas what is Due to me for services done in the Massachusetts Regt commanded by Col Joseph Woolf & his Regt shall be your Discharge for the same
William Pierce
attest Thomas Adams
Katharine Smith
Wm Pierce Pioneer on Pen
Wm Pierce W. H. 199 E. B. Mass.

BY THE HONOURABLE MAJOR-GENERAL KNOX, Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.
William Pierre Barber ——— in the — 1 st Massachusetts ————— Regiment being inlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourably DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.
Given in the State of New-York, the 24 ——— Day of Dec r
1783
By the General's Command,
H. Knox
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
Joseph H. Barber Capt. & Adjutant D o

Massachusetts-526
Phebe Pearce , widow of William Pearce , deceased.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 18. Mar. 1818. and who died on the 1 st of Sept. 1825 - of Middlesex co. in the State of Mass'ts. who was a private in the company commanded by Captain J. Williams of the Reg't commanded by Col. Wood in the Massachusetts line for 2 years private.
Pearce. Records corrected. Apr. 3/48.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts. at the rate of 80 Dollars 62 1/2 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Sept. Aculled, 1838 and sent to Isaac Fiske, Esq. Cambridge, Mass'ts.
Arrears to the 4th of March 39. 240:00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. " 40:00
$280:00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by S. A. Elliott Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 1, Page 119.

4322
✓ Massachusetts
Phebe Peirce*
widow of William Peirce*
who was a private
in the Mass ts Line
Peirce*
Records corrected. April 16/45. J.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the eleventh day of Jany 1844 and sent to Thos Bulfinch Boston Mass ts
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book AD Vol. / Page 51

Apr-11-1982 - Mrs. M. Pierce Husey Brookline Mass
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 19,983 Phoebe Pearce Widow of William Pearce Pr. Rev. War
Act: Feb 2d 48
Index:—Vol. M , Page 123
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Pearce. Apr. 2/05 Records corrected, R.

MAR 13 1902
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., March 7, 1902.
Madam:
In reply to your communication of a recent date, you are informed that this Bureau is unable to furnish a history of the service of any soldier of the Revolutionary war or of the war of 1812 unless he or his widow was a pensioner or an applicant for pension or bounty land; and that under the rules such a history is furnished only to the soldier's descendants, and to them only when it is desired for historical or genealogical purposes.
The large number of inquiries made on this subject, and the length of time required to make a proper search of the records in each case, will not permit of information being given to any applicant concerning more than two soldiers.
In order that the soldier concerning whom you desire information may be identified, you are requested to furnish as much as possible of the data called for below.
Very respectfully,
Mrs. M. Peice Massey, #234 Harvard St., Brookline, Mass.
M. C. Gaylord Commissioner.
Full name of soldier, William Peice. Where did he enter service? Waltham April 4 1781. Under what officers did he serve? Capt John Williams Co Col Josiah Root. Place of residence after service, Waltham Middlesex Co Mass. Approximate date of death, Sept 4 1825. Given name of widow, Phebe. Did either the soldier or his widow receive a pension? Both. Additional information, Served at West Point Cambridge and Philadelphia among other places. 3 years service. Signature, Mrs. M. Peice Massey. Post-office address, 234 Harvard Street Brookline, Mass.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled, "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. Suffolk COUNTY, }
On this thirteenth day of September 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid,
Phebe Pierce a resident of Boston in the county of Suffolk aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of
William Pierce who was a resident of Waltham when he entered the service and who was a private in the War of the Revolution
and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary service of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of eighty dollars and cents per annum.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day } and year above written, }
Before me,
Phebe Pierce
In presence of Ebenezer Allen  G. G. Bulfinch Justice of the Peace.
I Certify, That the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares.
G. G. Bulfinch Justice of the Peace.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY, }
I, Clerk of the Court, of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.
Given under my hand, and the Seal of said Court, this day of 18
CLERK.

P. Pierce
aa
4322