Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16378, for John Pray, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Gray, John Jane
No. 16378
{ B.P. 1642 - 300 - bapt. Issued Aug. 6, 1989 No papers
CONTENTS

Kather THE Milli
Holy Bible,
CONTAINING 1735
The OLD and NEW
TESTAMENTS:
Newly Translated out of the
Original Tongues,
AND
With the former Translations diligently Compared and Revised.
By His Majesty's Special Command.
Appointed to be Read in Churches.
OXFORD:
Printed by the UNIVERSITY PRINTER. MDCCXXX.
Price Two Shillings Unbound.
Episcopus

John Brays Book 1800

Mary Strange Pray Born 2 nd March 1707 between 11. & 12. in the Evening
Sarah Missin Pray born the 10 th Nov r 1708 about 1 o'clock Morning
Amelia Gail Pray Born Dec r 1 st between 3 & 4 o'clock P.M. 1790
Catherine Elizabeth Pray born between 1 & 2 o'clock in the morning of the 7 th July on Monday 1791

John Pooy and Jane Mavis Married the twentieth day of September the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred Eighty four —
Elizabeth Pooy Born June 22. 1785 about 4 o'clock in the morning —
Elizabeth Pooy Died 18th September 1785 Aged 2 Months and 27 Days —

See let: to A. W. Lea Esq. Present Nov. 2. 1844
Note of death made on 2/3
New York 4.010
Jane Pray
widow of John Pray
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 15 th February 1812 of N. York Co. in the State of N. York who was a Captain in the _____ commanded by Captain Mass of the reg't. commanded by Col. Sroat in the Mass. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 180 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29. day of Aug. 1839 and sent to Sylvester Spencer, New York
Arrears to the 4th of March '39 1440.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4. Sep. 240.00 $1680.00
{ Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown Book A. Vol. 2 Page 17

State of New York City County of New York } ss.
In Marine Court
On this 22 nd day of November One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, Personally appeared before the Marine Court of the City of New York Jane Pray a resident of the City County and State of New York aged Seventy six 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 th 1828 entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," That she is the widow of John Pray who was a Lieutenant and afterwards Captain in the first Massachusetts Regiment in the Army of the United States commanded by Colonel Sprague from January 1 st 1777 to December 1 st 1780, forty eight months, to wit, as Lieutenant thirty months, and as Captain eighteen months. And also that he served in Colonel Joseph Vose's Regiment as Commander of the Water Guard at Dobbs Ferry in the year 1781, as by reference to the documents hereto annexed will more fully appear.
She further declares, that she was married to the said John Pray, on the twentieth day of September, Seventeen hundred and eighty four, by the Rev. Mr. Romaine of Hackensack State of New Jersey, and that her maiden name was Jane Mesier; that her husband the aforesaid John Pray died on the fifteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and twelve; that she was not married to him previous 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, and that she still remains the widow of the said John Pray.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me Subscribed written on an enclosure. Isaac Hammond Judge Marine Court in open Court
Jane Pray

I John Barberie Clerk of the Marine Court of of the city of New York do hereby Certify that Nedah Hammond is one of the Justices of the said Court and that the said bond is a bond of Record, and that the signature to the within Certificate is his genuine signature now to in open Court In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court this seventeenth day of June One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
John Barberie

John Pray and Jane Mesier married the twentieth day of Sept. in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four
Elizabeth Pray born June 22 nd 1785 about 1 o'clock in the morning
Elizabeth Pray died 17 th September 1785 Aged 2 Months and 27 Days
Mary Strange Pray born 2 nd March 1787 between 11 & 12 in the morning
Sarah Mesier Pray born the 17 th Nov. 1788 about 1 o'clock morning
Amelia Gail Pray Born Dec. 19 th between 3 & 4 o'clock P.M. 1790
Catharine Elizabeth Pray born between 1 & 2 o'clock in the morning 7 th July on Monday 1794
State of New York City and County of New York ss. Mary Mesier of the City of New York being sworn on oath that the above is a true copy of entries made in the family bible now in the possession of the widow of John Pray, and that informant is seventy three years of age and was present at the marriage of John Pray to her sister Jane Mesier, that said marriage took place on the 20 th day September 1784 and that informant has a distinct remembrance of the time when the same took place, that said John Pray had been engaged to be married to her said sister for some time during the

revolutionary war and that the consummation of the said marriage was deferred for a long time in consequence of the said war; that said John Pray died on the fifteenth day of February 1872 and that his widow (the said Mary Pray) has never since been married -
Mary Mesier
State, City and County of New York ss: I Drayton H. Hunt of the City of New York a Commissioner duly authorized to take affidavits do hereby certify that on this twenty eighth day of July 1838 Mary Mesier appeared before me and made oath that the matters of fact contained in the foregoing deposition were true, and I do further certify that said deponent is a person of known respectability and a credible witness as to the facts herein she testifies -
D. H. Hunt Commissioner

October 21, 1932
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/AWT John Pray W. 16378
Mr. George H. Budke 140 Waverly Place New York City
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Captain John Pray of Massachusetts.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 16378, based upon the Revolutionary War service of John Pray.
The data and place of his birth are not given nor are the names of his parents shown.
He served from January 1, 1777, thirty months as lieutenant and eighteen months as captain in a Massachusetts regiment, a part of the time in Colonel Sprout's regiment, and in 1781 in Colonel Joseph Vose's First Massachusetts Regiment, as commander of the Water Guard at Dobb's Ferry.
John Pray married September 20, 1784 at Hackensack, New Jersey, Jane Mesier. She at that time was residing with her mother (name not stated) in Maiden Lane, New York City.
They moved immediately after their marriage to Shrewsbury, New Jersey and then to New York City, where he was an officer of the Customs.
He was a member of the New York State Society of Cincinnati.
He died February 15, 1822 in New York City.
His widow, Jane, was allowed pension on her appli-

cation executed November 22, 1838, then aged seventy-six years and living in New York City.
The following names appear on the family record: Elizabeth Pray born June 22, 1785 died September 17, 1785 Mary Strange Pray born March 2, 1787 Sarah Mesier Pray " November 17, 1788 Amelia Gaile Pray " December 19, 1790 Catharine Elizabeth Pray " July 7, 1794
The widow's sister, Mary Mesier in 1838 was seventy-three years old and living in New York City, and her brother, Reter A. Mesier in 1839 was a resident of New York City.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

From His Excellency Genl Washington July 26 th 1787

STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.
I, Joseph Hoxie, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That
Dayton Hobart whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Commissioner in and for the City and County aforesaid, dwelling in the said City, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand- writing of such Commissioner, and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 12 day of Jany 183 9
Joseph Hoxie Clerk.

Mr. Dayton presents his compliments to the Commission of Pensions, and encloses, for his perusal, a letter received last evening from the Rev. Dr. Berrian, Rector of Trinity Church New York, relation to an application of Mrs. Pray for a pension. 4' And. Office Aug. 10' 1839.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16378
Jane Pray widow of John Pray Captain New War
Act July 1 st 88
Index: Vol. 11 , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1909 Feb. 9. The correspondence with Capt. John Pray at Dobbs Ferry has been sent this day to Library of Congress.
19 52-4-21-lish L Bucke and Nov 2-Ad. Geo. H Bucke regard to of death. mndt 7

Head Quarters near Peekskill 27. June 1781.
Sir
I have recd. your favor of this date with the New York papers for which I am obliged. I send you the latest Phila d o papers in return. I will send the detachment under your command to be relieved by fresh Men in a day or two.
I am Sir
Yr. most obedt. Servt s
G. Washington
W.H. 16378
Capt. Prag.

From His Excellency Genl. Washington 27 June 1787.
4487
4,010
Capt. Pray Commanding Water Guard Dobbs Ferry. G. Washington

18 48 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN Congress ASSEMBLED
Greeting.
To John Pray Esquire We Reposing special trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be a Captain in the first Massachusetts Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such _____ from the _____ day of July - 1779. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Captain by doing and performing all manner of things therein belonging. And we do hereby charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Captain. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress forementioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness His Excellency John Hanson Esq. President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the Sixteenth day of September A.D. 1782 and in the Seventh Year of our Independence.
John Hanson
By Order of Congress Benjamin Lincoln Secretary at War.

Sir
Quarters July 21 st 1781
W. File 16,378
John Peap 16378
The same Movement which was mentioned in my Letter of the 14 th will be made this Evening - You will observe the same line of conduct as pointed out in that Letter; - using particular vigilance to discover every Motion of the Enemy, especially to mor- row Night - I shall absolute- ly depend upon it, that the Enemy cannot move a single step!

or Boat up the River, or have any thing in agitation, without your immediately obtaining, & communicating the knowledge of it to the Commanding Officer at Dobbs Ferry, and New Cam- -bridge or the Commanding Officer on our Right. —
You will please to deliver a Whale Boat to Capt. Bush- nell or his Order —
I am Sir
Your Most Obedient
G. Washburn
Capt. Drey

New York 8 th August 1839
Sir
I have received your Letter of the 25 th June last, relative to the case of Mrs Jane Pray, widow of John Pray, an applicant for a pension under the act of 7 th July 1838, and I now forward herewith the affidavit of William Popham, and other documents which Mrs Pray has produced,
Very Respectfully Your O bt Serv t Sylvester Spencer
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions D. C. Washington

State of New York
City & County of New York } ss
On this 26 th day of August 1839 before the Marine Court of the City of New York, personally app- eared William Burrian, of said City, and made oath in due form of law, that he is personally acquainted with Mrs Sarah Pray, who is an applicant for a pension under the Act of 7 th July 1838, as the widow of Captain John Pray deceased, and that from the reputation which Mrs Sarah Pray sustains in Society, this Deponent, has no doubt whatever, nor, does he believe that any doubt exists, in the community where she resides, of her being the widow of Captain John Pray, who was an officer in the Massachusetts Continental line in the Revolutionary War,
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above mentioned before
W m Burrian
Judah Hammond Justice Marine Court
New York Augt. 26. 1839
New York ss. The foregoing deposition is satisfactory evi- dence of the truth of the facts therein specified Mr W m Burrian having been to me well known above forty years last past and entitled to the highest confi- dence.
Judah Hammond Justice Marine Court

I John Barberie clerk of the Marine Court of the city of New York do hereby certify that Judah Hammond is one of the Justices of the said Court and that the said Court is a Court of Record, and that the witness signatures are her genuine signatures, above in open Court
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said Court this twenty sixth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine -
John Barberie

New York 27 th August
Sir
I herewith enclose the affidavit of William Burian, Rector of Trinity Church in this city, in the case of Mrs Jane Ray, widow of Captain John Ray deceased,
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt Sylvester Spencer
James S Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

New York 22 d June 1839
Sir
I herewith return the papers of Mrs Jane Pray, widow of John Pray, which were received in your Letter of the 4 th Inst. The application was intended to have been made, under the act of July 7 th  1838 , and not 1828 , as it was written by mistake, in the applicants first Declaration,
I am Very Respectfully Your At te Serv t Sylvester Spencer
James S Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

State of New York City and County of New York } ss
On this fifth day of August 1839 before the subscriber a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, residing in the city of New York, personally appeared William Popham, a resident of said city, aged Eighty seven years, who being by me duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, That he served in the Revolutionary War as Aid de Camp to General James Clinton, and continued with him until the capture of Burgoyne in the year 1778, That he was acquainted with Captain John Pray, of the Massachusetts line, and the identical person named in his Commission,
That he also knew the said John Pray as having command of the Water Guards at Dobbs Ferry for a long time during the Revolutionary War, That he also is acquainted with the said John Pray's Widow, Mrs Sarah Pray, who is an applicant for a Pension under the act of 7 th July 1838, that he believes her to be the identical person who was the wife, and is now the widow, of the said John Pray, who was a Captain in the 1 st Massachusetts Regiment. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me.
W. Popham
Sylvester Offner Notary Public
I hereby Certify that I have for many years been

Personally acquainted with the within named William Popham, that he is one of our most respectable citizens in this city, and a Pensioner under the act of 15 th May 1828, and that his Statement within made is entitled to full faith and Credit, and that in consequence of age, he is unable to attend Court, unless attended with great inconvenience,
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public

N.Y.
Jane Ray adue act 1838.
No. 4010.

New York 12 th Jan. 9 1889
Sir,
I have been requested to enclose the application, for a pension under the act of 7 th July 1888, of Mrs Jane May, widow of John May deceased, who was a captain in the Revolutionary War.
Very Respectfully Your, Obed Servt Sylvester Spencer
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Jane Gray N.Y. City $480 - act 7. July 38. last paid?
2 Nov '41
[Signature]
p d . 4 th March 1841 - 3 rd gr not in JH

November 1, 1932
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA/J MMHF/eel Am John Pray - W.16378
Mr. George H. Budke 140 Waverly Place New York, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of October 24, 1932, in regard to the date of death of John Pray (W.16378), a Revolutionary War soldier, whose record was furnished you on October 21, 1932.
The date of death given in office letter of October 21, as February 15, 1812, is correct as shown in the papers on file in the the applications for pension of the widow of John Pray. She stated under oath, as did also her sister Mary Mesier, that said John Pray died February 15, 1812.
There is on file, however, a small clipping, apparently from a newspaper, which states as follows:
"Cincinnati.
The members of the New York State Society of Cincinnati are requested to wear the usual mourning for thirty days as a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Captain John Pray, one of its members.
Benj. Ledyard, Sec'ry.
Feb. 10 - lw "
The date of that clipping would seem to conflict with the dates stated by the widow of John Pray and that of her sister, Mary.
Very truly yours
A.D.HILLER Assistant to Administrator

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HON. MORTIMER B. PATTERSON, President, Nyack J. EDGAR DAVIDSON, Vice-President, Hillburn HARRY RYERSON, Recording Secretary, Tappan MRS. GRACE A. M. SAYRES, Cor. Sec'y, South Nyack SAMUEL O. MILLER, Treasurer, West Nyack GEORGE H. BUDKE, Chairman, 561 W. 175th St, N.Y.C. MRS. F. C. SCHWARTING, Registrar
163 Seminary Ave., Rahway, N. J. MISS CORNELIA F. BEDELL HENRY P. McKENNEY MISS NATALIE F. COUCH EUGENE F. PERRY MICHAEL F. DEE MRS. LULU E. SERVEN DAVID H. McCONNELL JOHN C. TRAPHAGEN
CHAPLAIN
REV. CHARLES P. BISPHAM, Suffern
HISTORIC SITES COMMITTEE
GEORGE H. BUDKE, Chairman, 561 W. 175th St., N.Y.C. WILLIAM P. ABBOTT MRS. G. A. M. SAYRES HARRY RYERSON CLIFFORD ZABRISKIE
MUSEUM COMMITTEE
M. MONTGOMERY MAZE, Chairman, Pearl River MISS NATALIE F. COUCH HON. M. B. PATTERSON DR. ROYAL S. COPELAND MISS E. L. POMEROY
FINANCE COMMITTEE
JOHN C. TRAPHAGEN, Chairman, South Nyack MISS CORNELIA F. BEDELL DAVID H. McCONNELL
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
MRS. A. M. CREGER, Chairman, Grand View MISS F. L. BLAUVELT J. EDGAR DAVIDSON MRS. B. C. DUNLOP CHARLES C. GALBRAITH
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
A. M. CREGER, Chairman, Grand View MRS. CHAS. E. CONOVER DANIEL J. SHEA MILTON DeBAUN ELMER J. SNOW
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
JOHN D. DUNLOP, Chairman, South Nyack MRS. HELEN E. ESSEX A. J. MILLER DR. J. WILLIAM GILES HON. A. S. TOMPKINS DR. CHAS. D. KLINE J. DU PRATT WHITE
140 Waverly Place, New York City, October 24th, 1932.
A. D. Hiller, Esq., Assistant to Administrator, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.,
Dear Sir:
I beg to thank you for your courtesy in sending me the war record of Captain John Pray of Massachusetts.
Your record of his death -- February 15, 1812 -- is evidently incorrect. According to a notice published in the New-York Evening Post , at the time, he died on February 7th, 1812, at his residence in Stone Street, New York, and according to the records of the Corporation of Trinity Church, was buried in Trinity Church Yard, at the head of Wall Street, February 9th, 1812.
Perhaps you will wish to note this correction.
Yours very truly,
Geo. H. Budke
George H. Budke.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HON. MORTIMER B. PATTERSON, President, Nyack J. EDGAR DAVIDSON, Vice-President, Hillburn HARRY RYERSON, Recording Secretary, Tappan MRS. GRACE A. M. SAYRES, Cor. Sec'y, South Nyack SAMUEL O. MILLER, Treasurer, West Nyack GEORGE H. BUDKE, Chairman, 561 W. 175th St, N.Y.C. MRS. F. C. SCHWARTING, Registrar 163 Seminary Ave., Rahway, N. J. MISS CORNELIA F. BEDELL HENRY P. McKENNEY MISS NATALIE F. COUCH EUGENE F. PERRY MICHAEL F. DEE MRS. LULU E. SERVEN DAVID H. McCONNELL JOHN C. TRAPHAGEN
CHAPLAIN
REV. CHARLES P. BISPHAM, Suffern
HISTORIC SITES COMMITTEE
GEORGE H. BUDKE, Chairman, 561 W. 175th St., N.Y.C. WILLIAM P. ABBOTT MRS. G. A. M. SAYRES HARRY RYERSON CLIFFORD ZABRISKIE
MUSEUM COMMITTEE
M. MONTGOMERY MAZE, Chairman, Pearl River MISS NATALIE F. COUCH HON. M. B. PATTERSON DR. ROYAL S. COPELAND MISS K. L. POMEROY
FINANCE COMMITTEE
JOHN C. TRAPHAGEN, Chairman, South Nyack MISS CORNELIA F. BEDELL DAVID H. McCONNELL
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
MRS. A. M. CREGIER, Chairman, Grand View MISS F. L. BLAUVELT J. EDGAR DAVIDSON MRS. B. C. DUNLOP CHARLES C. GALBRAITH
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
A. M. CREGIER, Chairman, Grand View MRS. CHAS. E. CONOVER DANIEL J. SHEA MILTON DeBAUN ELMER J. SNOW
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
JOHN D. DUNLOP, Chairman, South Nyack MRS. HELEN E. ESSEX A. J. MILLER DR. J. WILLIAM GILES HON. A. S. TOMPKINS DR. CHAS. D. KLINE J. DU PRATT WHITE
440 Waverly Place, New York City, September 29th, 1932.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you have the kindness to inform me whether there is any record in your office of Captain John Pray of the First Massachusetts Regiment to which organization he was transferred on January 1st, 1781? Later in the same year, Pray was placed in command of the Block House at Dobb's Ferry and of the Water Guard on the Hudson River, where he served to the close of the war. The best information I have is that he died in 1812.
Anything you may be able to give me concerning him will be very much appreciated.
Yours truly,
Geo. H. Budke George H. Budke.

State of New York
City and County of New York } ss
On this seventeenth day of June 1839 personally appeared before John B Scott Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York Peter A. Mesier of the said City who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that he is personally acquainted with Jane Pray, who is an applicant for a pension under the act of July 7 th 1838, as the widow of John Pray, who was a captain and Lieutenant in the Revolutionary army, that he was well acquainted with the facts at the time of the marriage of the said John Pray to this deponent's sister, Jane Mesier, and at the time of said marriage she resided with her Mother in Maiden Lane in the city of New York, that she, the said Jane Pray, is the identical person, who was the wife, and is now the widow of John Pray deceased, and that she has not intermarried since the death of the said John Pray, but still remains his widow.
That the papers herunto annexed entitled " The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments " is the genuine original Family Record of the said John Pray, and that the same was torn out of the Family Bible which was kept by the said John Pray in his life time, by this deponent, and that the same was so torn out of the said Family Bible agreeable to the requisitions of the War Department for the purpose of transmitting with the papers of the said Jane Pray.
Sworn to and subscribed
on the day and year first above
written before
John B Scott Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York
Peter A Mesier

city and county of New York p. I do hereby certify that Mary Masier and Peter A Masier who severally subscribed the aforesaid depositions are entitled to credibility - Dated 17 th June 1839. J. M. Scott of the Marine Court
I, John Barberie Clerk of the Marine Court of the city of New York do hereby certify that J. M. Scott is one of the Justices of said Court, and that the said Court is a Court of Record and that the signatures to the four Certificates annexed are his genuine signatures sworn to in Open Court In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said Court this Seventeenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine John Barberie

State of New York City & County of New York } ss
On this seventeenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. Personally appeared before the Marine Court of the City of New York, Jane Pray a resident of the City, County, & State aforesaid, aged Seventy Six years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration, in addition to her former declaration made in this case, on the 22 nd day of November 1838, which Declaration was intended to have been made, as it is now made, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
That she is the widow of John Pray, who was a Lieutenant and afterwards Captain in the first Massachusetts Regiment in the army of the United States, commanded by Colonel Sproats from January 1 st 1777 to December 1 st 1780, forty eight months, to wit, as Lieutenant thirty months, and as Captain eighteen months, and also that he served in Colonel Joseph Vose's Regiment as Commander of the Water Guard at Dobbs Ferry in the year 1781, as by reference to the documents herunto annexed will more fully appear, and as she has also stated in her former Declaration,
She further declares that she was married to the said John Pray on the twentieth day of September Seventeen hundred and eighty four, by the Rev. d Mr Romaine of Hackensack State of New Jersey, and that her maiden name was Jane Mesier, and at the time of her marriage with the said John Pray she resided with her mother in Maiden Lane, in the City of New York, and that the said John Pray had not long previous returned from over

the Army, and boarded in the City of New York, until he made a visit to his friends at the Eastward, after his return to New York, they were married as aforesaid, and proceeded immediately to Shrewsbury in the State of New Jersey, where he entered into business on his own account, that they afterwards removed to the City of New York, and at the time of the said John Pray's death, he was an officer of the Customs in said City,
That the papers herunto annexed entitled " The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments " is the original genuine Family Record kept by this deponent and the said John Pray, and that the same was torn out of the Family Bible which was kept by the said John Pray in his life time, and this deponent, and that the same has never been out of this deponent's possession - and that the same was so torn out of the said Family Bible, agreeable to the requisitions of the War Department for the purpose of transmitting with the papers of this deponent,
She further declares as she has done in her former declaration, that her husband the aforesaid John Pray, died on the fifteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and twelve in the City of New York, that she was not married to him previous 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, and that she still remains the widow of the said John Pray.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above within written before
J. M. [unintelligible] Justice of the Peace of the City of New York
Jane Pray

State of New York City and County of New York } ss
Personally appeared before John B Scott Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York Mary Mesier of the City and County aforesaid, being sworn according to law, saith in addition to her former affidavit made on the twenty eighth day of July 1838, that she was present at the marriage of John Pray to her sister Jane Mesier, which took place on the twentieth day of September 1784 at Hackensack in the State of New Jersey, and was solemnized by the Reverend Mr Romaine of that place, and that deponent has a distinct recollection of the time when the same took place, that her said sister Jane Mesier, at the time of her marriage with John Pray resided with her mother in Maiden Lane New York, and that Jane Pray who is now an applicant for a Pension under the act of July 7 th 1838 as the widow of John Pray, is the identical person who was the wife and is now the widow of John Pray deceased who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and that she has not intermarried since the death of the said John Pray but still continues his widow,
That the paper herunto annexed entitled " The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments " is the genuine Family Record of the said John Pray, and that the same was torn out of the Family Bible which was kept by the said John Pray in his life time, which since his decease, it has been in the possession of his widow the said Jane Pray, and that the said John Pray died in the City of New York on the fifteenth day of February 1812,
Sworn to and subscribed
on this 17 th day of June 1839
before, Note, the words "Romaine written on an erasure,"
John B Scott Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Pray, Joseph GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4818 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Jan. 28, 1790
to Joseph May
*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.