Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8288, for James Pierce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental Mass.
Pierce, James Abigail
W 8288 B L M 38569 160 55-
CONTENTS

Ms. A. 9. 2. 6
Notations in left margin: Pension... John Davis... Orphan... 1818...
8,487 Massachusetts. /
James Pierce, of Roxbury, in the state of Massach ts . who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Knox, of the Massach ts . line, for the term of One Year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 30. of March, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22. of March, 1818. and sent to John Davis, Judge, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Arrears to 4th of March, 1819.  89. 55    Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4. Sept.  48 "    11 mo. \frac{6}{31} } 1819.  $137. 55  
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Discontinued.

No 115 James Pierce Not on Rolls
Motion R. was not allowed to be read Adm C
New Evidence marked B. & C.

United States Massachusetts District
James Pierce of Roxbury, Mass tt , Cordwainer and a resident citizen of the United States aged sixty three years applies for a pension from the United States under an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" maketh oath that he served as a Sergeant in the war of the Revolution in the Continental establishment the whole year A.D. 1776, having enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Henry Knox's Regiment shortly afterwards  joined in Stephen Bedlam's Company of artillery & shortly afterwards being promoted to Sergeant, and that he was honorably discharged at the end of the said year & received the said Stephen's Certificate, which he has now to produce; That he does not recollect the name of the line; That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
James Pierce
Massachusetts Dist.
March 30. 1810
Sworn before me
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
March 5 th 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, James Pierce by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
McWane's
{ District Judge U. S. Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
W. Davis
{ Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

United States Massachusetts District
James Pierce of Roxbury, Mass ts , Cordwainer and a resident citizen of the United States aged sixty three years applies for a pension from the United States under an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" maketh oath that he served as a sergeant in the war of the Revolution in the Continental establishment the whole year of A. D. 1776, having enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Henry Knox's Regiment shortly afterwards in Stephen Bedlass's Company of Artillery & shortly afterwards being created a sergeant, and that he was honorably discharged at the end of the said year & received the said Stephen's Certificate, which he has now to produce. That he does not recollect the name of the line. That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
James Pierce
Massachusetts Dist. Ct.
March 30. 1818
Sworn to before me
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston June 5
A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that James Pierce subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked A together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
J. D. Dows } Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

United States Massachusetts District
James Pierce of Roxbury, Mass ts , Cordwainer and a resident citizen of the United States aged sixty three years applies for a pension from the United States under an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" maketh oath that he served as a sergeant in the war of the Revolution in the Continental establishment the whole year A.D. 1776, having enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Henry Knox's Regiment shortly afterwards in Stephen Badlam's Company of Artillery & shortly afterwards being made a sergeant, and that he was honorably discharged at the end of the said year & received the 1 st Stephen's Certificate, which he has now to produce:
That he does not recollect the name of the line: That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
James Pierce
Massachusetts Dist t .
March 30. 1810
Pray to keep me
M c Dacis
D. Pierce and

Copy — Schedule Sc. of James Pierce
0407. M. 19
Mr Emile
J.L.E.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLK, ss.—CIRCUIT COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, SPECIAL SESSION, JULY 17, 1820.
On this eighteenth day of July 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record for said County, 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, James Pierce aged sixty six years, resident in Broxbury in said County, Coedwainer who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: After serving the Eight months service I enlisted into the year service about the first of January 1776 in the Company of Artillery commanded by Stephen Badlam in Col. Henry Knox's regiment and faithfully served my Country the whole year I was regularly & honorably discharged as stated more particularly in my former declaration for which service a pension was granted me and a Certificate duly issued dated March 22 d 1819 and numbered 8487.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, 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 18th day of March, 1818; 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.
James Pierce
Sworn to and declared, on the eighteenth day of A. D. 1820 before
Jairus Ware Judge C. C. Comt Pleas for S d Circuit
Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of 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 Six hundred dollars and cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty fourth day of July 1820
Horatio Townsend Clerk.

A Schedule of the property of James Pierce of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk & Com- monwealth of Massachusetts an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1 st 1820 necessary cloathing beds & bedding excepted
Real Estate
A small house & garden not exceeding one tenth part of an acre of land -
Personal Estate
Sundry small articles of household furniture, but just sufficient to cook & keep house not exceeding in value the sum of twenty dollars
One Swine —————
James Pierce
I am by occupation a Cordwainer, have a second wife aged 43 years & three children under age to wit a son aged 14 years put out to learn a trade, a daughter about sixteen years old out at service and a son about ten years old at home. I am my- self very infirm having been for many years troubled with a bad rupture
James Pierce

5649
Massachusetts
Migail Pierce, widow of James, Pierce Mah who served in the Revolutionary
Sifer, Sergeant, & war, as a Matross.
Increased from $60
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 94. dollars 66 cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued
18 th day of March 1856.
and sent to
Elijah Clark. Brighton Mass.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 14 Vol. 26
234710

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Worcester ss.
On this nineteenth day of January, eighteen hundred and fifty six, personally appeared Mrs. Thomas Kennebec, Judge of before the Court of Probate in and for the County of Worcester and State aforesaid. Abigail Pierce, a resident of Harvard in said County of Worcester, aged Seventy eight 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 Acts of Congress passed July first, and July 29 th , in the year A.D. 1848, as well as the Act of February, 8 th 1858, granting Pensions to the Widows of Revolutionary Officers and Soldiers.
That She is the widow of James Pierce, deceased, who was a Master, and Sergeant in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, which Service he rendered from the town of Dorchester in the aforesaid County of Norfolk from the year 1775, apart of his Service, she believes, was rendered in the year 1777 and other Services at a subsequent date, and that the said James Pierce was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States under the Act of March 18, 1818, as a Sergeant in the Massachusetts Continental Line, and received Ninety six dollars per annum, until his name was dropped from the Pension Roll, in the agency of Massachusetts, by reason of his having some property.
She further declares, that she was married to the said James Pierce on the first day of January eighteen hundred and thirty by the Rev. Eliphalet Porter, Pastor of a Church and Society in Roxbury.

in the aforesaid County of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, and that her name before her said Marriage was Abigail Frazar. That her husband the said James Pierce, died in Roxbury aforesaid, on the twenty first day of May A.D. eighteen hundred and twenty six. That she was not married to him prior to January first seventeen hundred and ninety four, but that the marriage took place previous to the third day of February eighteen hundred and fifty three, "being" at the time above stated. She further declared, that she has never before made a declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension.
attest -
Abigail her X Pierce
AGM The Kinnicutt }
Mark
Subscribed and sworn to, on the day and year first above written, by the above named Abigail Pierce, before me, she being unable from age & infirmity to appear in open court. And I further certify that I have no interest as counsel or attorney in the result of the above application.
Meeteen Jan'y 19 th 1856
The Kinnicutt } Judge of Probate }

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify, that Thomas Kinnicutt is the Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and qualified - and that the signature on the preceding page of this sheet, purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto set my hands unto the seal of said Court, this twenty first day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
Chas. G. Prentiss, Register

234-710. Act of Mar 3
(55)
Feb 11. 1856.
Abigail Pierce widow of James Pierce dec.
Abigail Pierce wid. of James Pierce, Enl. (R) S. - Serjt.
Revolutionary War
Rev. Pension of $96. per Annum. Act of Mar. 1828.
Feb 53-5649
W: 16000 Aug 14/56
Bluffton
Elizah Clark
No
Brighton Mass
Vol P-93

234/10.
Elijah Clark Brighton Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Worcester, ss.
On this fourth day of February, eighteen hundred and fifty six, personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace, within and for the County, and State aforesaid, Abigail Pierce, aged seventy eight years, a resident of Harvard, in the State of Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declared that she is the widow of James Pierce, deceased, who rendered his country service in the Revolutionary War, from the town of Dorchester in the County of Norfolk and State aforesaid, that he was in the service at Roxbury and Mattapan in the year 1775, and as she believes was in the service as sergeant, in the year 1776, that he was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, under the Act of March 18, 1838, as sergeant in the Massachusetts Line, and received ninety six dollars per annum, until his name was dropped from the Pension Roll in the agency of the State of Massachusetts, by reason of having some property, She further states, that she was married to the said James Pierce by the Rev. Eliphale Porter, pastor of the First Church and Society in Roxbury, aforesaid, on the first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixteen, and that her name before her said marriage was Abigail Farn, that her said husband died at his place of residence in Roxbury County, Norfolk and State aforesaid, on the twenty first day of May, eighteen hundred and twenty six, and that she is now a widow. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "Act approved March 3, 1835," and for proof of the above statements. She refers to her papers recently filed in the Pension Office, for a pension under Act of Feb. 3, 1833.
Abigail Pierce

We Sarah Farn and Lydia Farn
residents of Harvard in the State of Massachusetts. Upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Abigail Pierce in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person, she represents herself to be,
Lydia Farn Sarah Farn.
The foregoing declaration, and affidavit were sworn to, and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Before Me. E. C. Holman Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid;

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, Feb. 8 th 1856
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed,
C. A. Holman was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; 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 of Which, I have hereunto affixed the SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH, the date above written.
J. D. Slee Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, Jan. 23. 1856
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestations hereunto annexed,
A. S. Cummings and Chas Wild were
Justices of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
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 of Which, I have hereunto affixed the SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH, the date above written.
T. D. WIT
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

State of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk, City of Roxbury,
(a) Eighteen Hundred Sixteen Jan'y first " Mr. James Pierce & Miss Abigail Farr were Married by Eliphalat Porter Pastor of the 1 st Church in Roxbury
I CERTIFY that 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: — (b)
1816 Jan'y. 1 st
Joseph W. Tucker
I, Joseph W. Tucker above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of City Clerk, in the city, county and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said city, with the exception above named, as certified by me. and I also find in the record of deaths, the following "Mr. James Pierce died May 21 st 1826 aged 41 years" Joseph W. Tucker Clerk of said City.
Births Anno 1754 22 James Pierce the son of John and Elizabeth Pierce was born December 18 th 1754 22
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy from Dorchester records —
Ebenezer Tolman Town Clerk
Dorchester Jan. 14. 1856

State of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk, City of Roxbury,
(a) Eighteen Hundred Sixteen Jan'y first " Mr. James Pierce & Miss Abigail Parr were Married by Eliphalet Porter Pastor of the 1 st Church in Roxbury
I CERTIFY that 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: — (b)
1816 Jan'y. 1 st
Joseph W. Tucker
I, Joseph W. Tucker above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of City Clerk, in the city, county and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said city, with the exception above named, as certified by me. and I also find in the record of deaths, the following "Mr. James Pierce died May 21 st 1826 aged 71 years" Joseph W. Tucker Clerk of said City.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLK ss.
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this Eleventh day of January A. D. 18 56
A. S. Cummings , Justice of the Peace.
(a) Here fill in an exact transcript of the record, except that, instead of copying the figures, the date must be written out in full. (b) Here give the date exactly as it is in the record.

I Charles Stearns Jr of Brookline in the County of Norfolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts sixty one years of age do hereby testify & say, that I have resided in this town since the year 1804, during all which time I was personally ac- quainted with Mr James Pierce late of Roxbury, residing in a village on the borders of said Brookline, till the time of his death which occurred on or near the twenty first day of May 1826; That he was generally reported to have been a soldier in the revolutionary war; that I was knowing to his having received a pension for his services during that war, which pension was soon after re- voked, in consequence of his being the owner of the small cottage in which he resided. He was a man of robust & healthy constitution, and maintained his vigour till within about a month of his decease, when at the anniversary of the battle of the Concord he walked to that place, a distance of fifteen miles at the age of seventy two, to meet & greet his old companion in arms Gen Lafayette, who was present on the occasion, and walked back to his house in Roxbury the same evening. His great effort together with the powerful excitement of the scene than  from the deep interest he took in every thing connected with the revolutionary struggle was too much for his advanced age, and he continued to fail from that time till he died. He left at his decease Abigail Pierce his widow, who is now living & resides in the town of Harvard in the County of Worcester, Massachusetts, and has not married since the death of her husband the aforesaid James Pierce.
Charles Stearns Jr

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk Ss. Brookline Jan y 10 th 1856. Then personally appeared the within named Charles Stearns Jr, who is well known to me to be a gentleman of honor & veracity & made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit by him subscribed. And I certify that I am not in any wise interested in the matter for which this affidavit is taken. Furthermore I certify that the erasure of the word "the" in the fourteenth line; the interpolation of the word "of" in the fifteenth line & the substitution of the word "from" for "and" in the nineteenth line were made before signing
Charles Wild Jr Bear
I further individually certify that I was the family physician of the said James Peirce from the year 1810 till his death in 1826 & am fully cognizant of the truth of all the statements made in the within affidavit of M c Charles Stearns
Charles Wild M.D.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts — County of Norfolk Town of Dorchester Feb 20th 1856 — I the subscriber do hereby certify that the following is an extract from Dorchester records
"Births anno. 1754 — James Pierce the son of John and Elizabeth Pierce, was born December 19th Sixteen — In the year seventeen hundred and fifty four —"
I certify that 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 "December 19th 1754" Eben Tolman — Town Clerk
I Eben Tolman, above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the town, county and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me, I also hereby certify that it does not appear by the records of said town of Dorchester that any other person by the name of James Pierce resided in said town from the time of the said James Pierce's Birth (1754) to the year seventeen hundred and eighty five Eben Tolman
Norfolk ss
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this twentieth day of February A.D. 1856 — I hereby certify that I am disinterested Lewis Pierce Justice of the Peace

I, Thomas J. Tolman, of Dorchester, in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman in the eighty second year of my age, do testify and say. That I am a native of this town, and have here always resided. That I held the Office of Town Clerk for the space of twenty years, and have also held other Town offices in this town. I recollect many of those Officers and Soldiers, who rendered service in the Revolutionary war, as was stated to me in the early part of my life. I will recollect the family of John Pierce of this town, the children were Benjamin John Jonathan James Samuel and Isaac and one or more daughters all the family were then many years older than myself. I recollect that it was stated that this James Pierce the son of John Pierce aforesaid was an apprentice to John Tolman a Wheelwright, and a near neighbor to my father. That he the said James Pierce left said John Tolmans and went into the service of the Revolution. And my father Ebenezer Tolman was Clerk of the Dorchester company and he stated that he went first to Cambridge, it being the first regular service in the revolution. And I believe from the former statements of my father, that this James Pierce was in the service at Cambridge with him. I recollect that it was stated that Hopstill Hall of Dorchester aforesaid was an Officer in the Revolution, he lived and died in this town many years since and was called Col. Hall.

and there was also a Col. Robinson, and also a Captain Thomas Pierce the last named officer was commanding officer of the first Company of Artillery in the Revolutionary war and went to a place called Fishkill where he died as I have heard. I recollect near fifty years since that this James Pierce, aforesaid made some statements to me of his having rendered some service in the Revolution, he lived the last part of his life in the adjoining town of Roxbury in said county of that part near to Brookline where I understood he died many years since. I recollect that he was a smart able and active man. Also that there was no other James Pierce that ever lived in Dorchester excepting a son of Benjamin Pierce, brother of the aforesaid James Pierce up to the year 1800 as I was an assistant Assessor for several years prior to this date.
Thomas J. Tolman
Norfolk Ss. Dorchester Feb 20. A.D. 1856 Then personally appeared Thomas J. Tolman and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed. And I hereby certify that he is a credible witness and retains his memory remarkably well also that I have no interest in the matter for which this affidavit was taken.
Aben Tolman Justice of the Peace.

5
38.569
5 New York

A
Continental House
74. 8288
James Pierce
The wills mentioned Nathan Badlam is not living
F.D.

These may Certify that James Pierce Sergeant In major Stephen Badlams Company of artillery In colonel Henry Knox Regiment, has served the whole time of his Enlistment, Viz r for the whole year 1776,
At Independence Dec r y e 31 st 1776
Stephen Badlam Major of Artillery
A stylized signature of Stephen Badlam, featuring a large, bold initial 'S' and a decorative flourish.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, July 23 d 1856
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestations hereunto annexed,
Levi Pierce Eben Tolman
are Justices of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
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 of Which, I have hereunto affixed the SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH, the date above written.
H. D. Wells Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. _____
8288
Abigail Pierce
Widow
James Pierce
Infra Bona
Act: _____
July 3 d
1856
Index:—Vol. _____
16
Page _____
130
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5.649.
Massachusetts, Abigail Pierce, widow of James,
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Sergeant.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 60. dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued
5 th day of Feby. 1856.
and sent to
Dejah Clark, Brighton, Mass.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 111. Vol. 16
Dejah Clark Feby 13 1856-

Brighton, Mass. January, 25, 1856.
Hon. J. Minot Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir,
I enclose to you herewith the claims documents of Mrs Abigail Pierce of Harvard late of Roxbury, and widow of James Pierce for a Pension under the Act of February, 3d 1853.
Very Respectfully
Yours
Elizah Clarke

Brighton, Mass. February, 8. 1886.
Hon. J. Minot Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir. The case of Abigail Pierce of Warrwick widow of James Pierce, which I forwarded to you, is answered and received this morning by a Pension Certificate of only sixty dollars per annum. and Sir, I immediately return it, presuming that the Act of July, 1st 1842 25 , had been overlooked. Her husband was pensioned under Act of 1848, as Sergeant in the Mass. line, at $96.00 dollars per annum. I believe she is entitled to an increase above the $96.00 per annum. Her husband was Sergeant in the Genl. Service and was Mustered out March 8th in 1775, also a gipser , from April, 19, 1775.
I also enclose to you herewith Mrs Pierce's claim for Bounty Land under Act of March 3, 1855.
Yours Respectfully Colt S. H. G. Elijah Clark
Land claim taken out Adams

Brighton, Mass. February, 28, 1856.
Hon. J. Minot. Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir. I enclose to you herewith the Pension Certificate of Mrs. Abigail Pierce, of Harvard widow of James Pierce, for an increase. I had supposed since the passage of the Act of July-1, 1852, "that in all cases, the evidence on file by which the officer or soldier received a pension, that his widow should there upon be placed upon the pension Roll, at least for the same rate that such officer or soldier received a pension for." In this case I had thought the widow would receive a little increase to $596. per ann. the amount which her husband received under Act of March, 18, 1852. Additional evidence in proof of James Pierce's service in 1775, is also herewith enclosed.
Yours very Respectfully Colt. S. H. G. Elijah Clark

Abigail Pierce Widow of James Keaps
adm d . 3 Feby 1853 1 year Arrear $60 a year from the pas- sage of the Act
Cert d to Elijah Clark Esq Brighton Mass

Payment to be made at
Boston
by
D. C. Barnes Esq.
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of
Wassachusetts,
Payable on the 4th September and 4th March
Recorded in the Pension Office on the Roll of Pensioners under act February 3d, 1853, Page 14. Vol. H.
H. C. Hovey
Clerk.

100-100000 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. WIDOW'S PENSION.
I certify that, in conformity with the 2d section of the act of February 3, 1853,
Abigail Pierce,
widow of James Pierce, who was a Sergeant in the revolutionary war, is inscribed on the Pension List, at the rate of Sixty, dollars and _____ cents per annum, commencing on the 3d of February, 1853, and continuing for life, unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage.
Given at the Department of the Interior, this fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty-Six,
Charles M. McLane
Secretary of the Interior.
Examined and countersigned.
A. Smith
Commissioner of Pensions.

Brief in the case of Abigail Pierce Widow of James County and State of Massachusetts act 3 Feb, 1883
Claim, ("original," or for increase )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Her husband was pensioned under the Act of 1828 at $96 a year. Record evidence of marriage furnished. She is pensioned at $60 a year instead of $96. Her husband served one year as Sergeant which entitled him to $96 under the Act of 1828 and would have entitled her to that amount if he had
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what? been continued under the Act 1820, but he was dropped under the provision of the Act of 1820, the having too much property to be considered an Indigent . Under the Act of 1832 and widow's  one year's service as Sergeant entitles to $60 a year. Cohabitation, general reputation of marriage, her identity as the pensioner's widow, his death and her present widowhood proved by credible witnesses.
Name and residence of Agent Elijah Clark Esq Brighton Mass
Thornton D. Ladd Examining Clerk.

Brief in the case of Abigail Pierce widow of James County and State of Maine act 3 Feby 1853
Claim, (" original " or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Her husband was pensioned under the Act of 1828 at $96 a year, was dropped under the provisions of the Act of 1820, - with his original declaration he filed his discharge from the year's service of 1776 as Sergeant ,
When his widow was pensioned under the Act of 1853, she was properly only allowed for the years service as Sergeant for
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
$60 a year, as that was the only service properly proved. She now however, establishes by Record his service in 1775 for 8 months as Matross and 12 days as File , which makes her pension $94, 66 a year, deducting $60 if any payments have been made at that rate. Her Certificate of Pension under the Act of 1853 has been returned and cancelled.
Name and residence of Agent
Abijah Clark Esq Brighton Me.
Thurston D. Dyer Examining Clerk.

Abigail Pierce, Widow of James, Mass
Med 3 Feb 1853
12 mo Suf. $60 8 " Maltip 33.33 1200 Tip 1.33 $94.66
from the balance of the Act & deducting $60 a year if any payment has been made at that rate
Cert to Elijah Clark Esq Brighton Mass

Pension Office Feb'y 13 th 1856
Sir
I return the Certificate of Mrs Abigail Pierce. Her husband was pensioned under the Act of 1818 at $96. a Year, but he was dropped under the Act of May 1 st 1820 and never restored. His widow, therefore cannot claim the $96 a Year under the principles of the Joint Resolution of July 1 st 1848+ (The Act of 1853 is equally explicit). She can only receive a pension for the service shown to have been performed by her husband, which is 12 Months as Sergeant . The other service he claimed was never proved and this Office is not in possession of the evidence of it.
Very Respectfully Your Ob t Serv t R. M. Rice
For Commissioner
Elijah Clark Esq r Brighton Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston. February 23. 1856.
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 James Pieu is borne on pay roll of Capt. Hopstill Hall's Comp. on alarm of April 19. 1775, 12 days as Pieu from Dorchester.
Also on return of Capt. Thomas Pierce's Comp. Col. Richard Gridley's Regt. dated Sept. 29. 1775. name borne on Coat roll dated Dec. 27. 1775. 8 mos. as Walter , from Dorchester.
Capt. Hall and Capt. Pierce above named were from Dorchester.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.

will be seen by the certificate of the Clerk the other side, that the Court approved all the property of the Applicant mentioned in the Schedule including House &c at the sum of six hundred dollars.
J. Ware.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston,
January 17. 1856.
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 James Fier is borne on pay roll of Capt. Hopstill Hall's Comp. on alumn of April 19. 1775. 12 days, as Fifer from Dorchester.
Also on pay roll of Capt. Thomas Lewis's Comp. Col. Richard Gridley's Regt. return dated Sept. 29. 1775. Name borne on return of Cont roll dated, Camp at Roxbury Dec. 27. 1775. as maulers, from Dorchester.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Francis De Witt Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Abigail Pierce of Harvard in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Seventy eight years of age. Depose and say, that I have good reason to believe that I am entitled to a Pension from the United States in consideration of the services of my late husband James Pierce, in the War of the Revolution that he was a native and resident of Dorchester in the State of Mass and to my impression he was in the service from said town of Dorchester in the first part of the War and was in a company of Col. Tilton's in 1775 and afterwards was in the Massachusetts Continental Line, as he was in a receipt of a Pension many years since as a Sergeant but was dropped from the Roll of Pensioners by the reason of his having some property and I request the Secretary of the Commonwealth to examine the State and Government in his office & furnish evidence of the services rendered by the said James Pierce.
Abigail Pierce
Worcester Jan. Harvard January 15. A.D. 1856 Then personally Abigail Pierce subscribed to the above in my presence. Attest E. A. Holman Justice of Peace

B

I Timothy Slocum of Dedham in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say that I knew James Pierce in the revolutionary war in the eight months service in the year 1775 he served that term in Capt Thomas Pierce's Company, afterwards in the spring beginning of the year 1776 he enlisted into a Company of Artillery commanded by Capt Stephen Badlam of the Regiment then commanded by Col Henry Knox. in the year's service, in the summer, commanded a company of Militia in Col. Ephraim Wheelock's Regiment at Lancaster and about Mount Independence, and knew the said Pierce in service in said Badlam's Company till nearly the time of my return home in the month of November that year, and have reason to believe he continued till his term of service expired - I further testify that the above named James Pierce is the same who now applies for his affidavit.
Tim d Slocum
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss. January 11 th 1821
a credible witness
Then the above named Timothy Slocum personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed was true.
Note the words "a credible witness"
most attested by me
James Richardson Just of Peace
before me James Richardson Justice of the Peace & Quorum
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss
I Horatio Townsend clerk of the Courts in said County, do hereby certify that James Richardson is a Justice of the Peace and Quorum in and for said County duly commissioned by the Executive Authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that the signature to the within certificate is in the handwriting of the said James Richardson.
For testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty one Horatio Townsend

Norfolk S. March 2 d 1819
I hereby certify that the within named Timothy Shaw is a credible witness and that full faith ought to be given to his testimony. James Rich and son Justice of the Peace
B

C

I Samuel Doggett of Dedham in the County of Norfolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify & say that I was a Lieutenant of Artillery in the Company commanded by Capt Stevens in the revolutionary war, that I well knew James Pierce in the service he was in the Company of Artillery commanded by Capt Stephen Badlam in the same Regiment then commanded by Col Henry Knox. - That we marched together from Cambridge about the twenty eighth  sixth day of March 1776 for Canada, that I knew him in the service about St Johns Mont real the Three Rivers the river St. Lawrence till the month of September in the same year when I returned home on a furlough on account of ill health leaving said Pierce then in service. I further testify that the above named James Pierce is the same person who now applies to me for this affidavit, and I have been acquaint- ed with him ever since we were in service.
Samuel Doggett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss: January 21 st 1819
Then the above named Samuel Doggett a credible witness personally appeared and made solemn oath that the fore- going affidavit by him subscribed was true.
before me James Richardson Justice of the Peace & Quorum
Note the words "a credible witness" were interlined by me James Richardson Justice of the Peace
Norfolk ss: March 2 d 1819 I hereby certify that the above named Samuel Doggett is a credible witness and that full faith ought to be given to his testimony James Richardson Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk ss -
Horatio Townsend Clerk of the Judicial Courts in said County, do hereby certify that James Richardson is a Justice of the Peace and Quorum in and for said County of Norfolk duly commissioned by the Executive authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the signature to the within certificate is in the handwriting of the said James Richardson
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
Horatio Townsend

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Pierce, James GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4873 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 25, 1798
To Joshua Pickering
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.