Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14792, for Benjamin Pierce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pierce, Benjamin Glass, Lucy
N 14792
(Former widow)
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 1219
Lucy Glass, who was widow of Benjamin Pierce
who died on the 9. Dec. 1783 of Plymouth Co. in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Bradford of the Regt. commanded by Col. Bailey in the Mass. line for 2 years, Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26. day of July 1837 and sent to J. H. Lord Plymouth, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March '37, 480.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept. " 40.00
$520.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 — }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book A. Vol. 1 — Page 51

V18521 Lucy Glap. James wife Hind. d. Bony " Pierce. Maps
Adm d private 2yr $80 per ann. comm d 4 March 1831 Mass State Troops Col Bailey } Capt Bradford }
H. Lord & Co Plymouth Ms

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss
On this twenty fifth day of March 1837 personally appeared before the Hon. William Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County Lucy Glass a resident in Duxbury in said County of Plymouth of State of Massachusetts 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 July 4 th 1836 & the act explanatory of said act passed March 3 rd 1837 - That she was married to Benjamin Pease who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. That he enlisted the last of December 1775 for one year & went to Roxbury & served there until the British troops left Boston when he marched to New York & was discharged the last of December 1776 she thinks he served in Col. Samuel Bradford's Company in Col. Baileys Regiment but of this she is not positive that in the year 1777 he served either by enlistment or substitute in a Company commanded by Andrew Sampson. Stationed at the Gurnet at the entrance of Plymouth harbor & served six months. That in the year 1778 he enlisted into the same Company aforesaid stationed at the Gurnet commanded by Stephen Churchill. John Washburn was Lieutenant &

had the immediate command of the company & served one year & that he served in the company aforesaid as substitute or enlistment at several different periods from 1778 to 1782 which she cannot with certainty define that in the spring of 1782 he again enlisted into the company aforesaid & served eight months at the same place viz at the Garet the company was commanded by Solomon Bortlett who was an orderly sergeant the highest officer we had the whole period of his services was more than three years she further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Pierce on the 8 th day of May 1775 & that her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Pierce died on the ninth day of December 1783 That she afterwards was married to James Graft who died on the twenty sixth day of August 1827 & that she was a widow on the 11 th day of July 1836 & still remains a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof annexed sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written
hot Lucy L Graft mother
Plymouth ss. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written Before me & I certify that said Lucy Graft is a credible person & that she is by reason of the infirmities of age unable to travel to attend Court to make her declaration
Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth

Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. William Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court for said County this twenty ninth day of April 1837
Jacob H. Lord

Lucy Gays Josiah Moore

I Josiah Moore pastor of the First Congregational Church in Duxbury whereof the Rev John Ally was formerly pastor hereby certify that I find on the 33 d page of the church records of the person. Married by the Rev John Ally on August 26 1791 James Goss & Lucy Pease. I further certify that Lucy Goss is the widow of James Goss who has been dead about 10 years & I have no doubt but that she was formerly the wife of Benjamin Pease deceased given under my hand at Duxbury this 26 day of March 1837 Josiah Moore 
State of Massachusetts } ss On the day & year above Plymouth County } ss written personally appeared Josiah Moore above named & subscribed & made oath to the truth of the above statement before me I further certify that Josiah Moore above named is a credible person & entitled to full credit  Beth Sprague Jr Jur Dean. 

James Weston of Duxbury aged seventy five years hereby certify that I was a soldier in the war of the Revolution & served at the Garet at the entrance of Plymouth harbor in the latter part of the year - 1777 & eight months in the year 1778 Benjamin Pease formerly the husband of Lucy Glos was a soldier at the same time & place with me how long he served I am not able now to recollect to enable me to state it with certainty but I distinctly recollect his being a fellow soldier with me Andrew Sampson was our captain in the year 1777 & Lieut John Northburn commanded in 1778 I further certify that Lucy Glos formerly the wife of said Benjamin Pease & since the wife of James Glos has been a widow for about ten years & was a widow on the fourth day of July 1836 & has not been married since that period given under my hand at Duxbury the seventh day of April 1897 James Weston
State of Massachusetts } Plymouth County ss } On the day & year above written personally appeared James Weston above named & subscri- bed & made oath to the truth of the above statement before me I further certify that James Weston aforesaid is a credible person & entitled full credit Beth Sprague Jr. Gen. Com.

I John Burgess aged seventy two years hereby certify that Benjamin Pease late of Duxbury deceased was a soldier in the War of the Revolution & served eight months in a Company Comman- ded by Solomon Bartlett who was an orderly Sergeant the highest office we had, stationed at the Gurnet at the entrance of Plymouth harbor. I was a soldier at the same time & place we enlisted together in the winter of spring (of 1782) & was discharged in the fall I was well acquainted with said Pease & have a perfect rec- ollection of his serving as aforesaid eight months. I further certify that Lucy Gles was at the time aforesaid the wife of said Benjamin Pease & that she subsequently married Jerimiah Gles who has been dead about ten years. I further certify that said Lucy Gles was a widow on the 4 July 1806 & has not been married since that period given under my hand at Plymouth the Nineteenth day of April 1897
John Burgess
State of Massachusetts Plymouth ss Be the day & year above written personally appeared John Burgess above named & subscribed & made oath to the truth of the above deposition. I further certify that the aforesaid John Burgess is a credible person & his testimony is entitled to full credit before me E. M. Sprague Jr. Judge

Judah Haden of Duxbury aged eighty six hereby certify that Benjamin Reese late of Duxbury deceased was a soldier in the war of the Revolution & served from December 1775 to December 1776 in the Company commanded by Samuel Woodford in Col. Baileys Reg- iment I was Lieutenant of the Company aforesaid & said Reese was a neigh- bor to me & I well remember that Reese was in said company at the battle at Nobles heights & took a wounded man from the field in time of action. I further certify that Lucy Gless was formerly the wife of said Benjamin Reese & that she was a widow on the 4 th of July 1876 & still remains a widow given under my hand at Duxbury this seventh day of April 1887
Judah Haden

I Ralph Partridge clerk of the Town of Duxbury hereby Certify that I find recorded in the Town books in my possession of the person married May 11 1775 Benjamin Pierce & Lucy Burgess, I further certify that Lucy Glass is the same person named above & that she was a widow on the 14 th of July 1836 & still remains a widow given under my hand at Duxbury this twenty fifth day of April 1837 Ralph Partridge Clerk of Duxbury
State of Massachusetts Plymouth ss On the day & year above written personally appeared the above named Ralph Partridge & made Oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed before me I further certify that the aforesaid Ralph Partridge is a credible person & his testimony is entitled to credit Seth Sprague Jr. Deans

The subscribers Selectmen & Clerk of Duxbury hereby certify that Lucy Glos is an inhabitant of this Town & that her husband Benjamin Pease is reputed to have served in the war of the Revolution & we have no doubt but that he served more than two years in the war of the Revolution we further certify that said Lucy Glos has as good a reputation for honesty & integrity as any person in town & we have no doubt but that her declaration made in order to obtain a pension is true we further certify that said Lucy Glos was a widow on the 1 st of July 1836 & still remains a widow given under our hands at Duxbury this twenty fifth day of April 1837
J. F. Wadsworth } Selectmen Benj. Alden } of Silvanus Smith } Duxbury
State of Massachusetts Plymouth ss On the day & year above written personally appeared the above named J. F. Wadsworth Benj. Alden Silvanus Smith & Ralph Partridge & severally made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement before me I further certify that said J. F. Wadsworth Benj. Alden Silvanus Smith & Ralph Partridge are credible persons & their testimony is entitled to full credit
Seth Sprague Jr. Jur. Com.

State of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss On the day & year within written personally appeared the within named Judah Alden & subscribed & made Oath to the truth of the within Statement before me I further certify that Judah Alden aforesaid is a credible person & his testimony is entitled to full credit
Seth Sprague Jr For Clerk

I Ezra Morton hereby certify that Benjamin in Peirce deceased was a soldier in the war of the Revolution & served eight months in a company commanded by Solomon Bartlett an orderly sergeant the highest office we had we served at the Gurnet at the entrance of Plymouth harbor I was a soldier at the same place in the same company we enlisted in the spring of 1782 & were discharged in the fall January I further certify that Lucy Gage was formerly the wife of said Benjamin Peirce & that she was a widow on the 4 th day of July 1826 & still remains a widow April 25 1837 Ezra Morton
State of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss On this twenty fifth day of April 1837 personally appeared the above named Ezra Morton & subscribed & made oath to the truth of the above certificate before me I further certify that said Ezra Morton is a credible person & his testimony is entitled to credit
S. M. Sprague Jr. J. D. D. S.

Burgoh & M. Stern
Aug 8 Cof

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Seth Sprague Jun. Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the several signatures to the annexed affidavits purporting to be signed by him are his true & genuine signatures.
Henry Stiles former Stiles
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court for said County this twenty ninth day of April 1837
Jacob H. Lord

July 17
ms Jm at Lucy Glop
Hon. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Plymouth July 12. 1837
Sir,
Yours of the 22 ult. "in relation to the claim of Lucy Gylas formerly the Widow of Benjamin Peirce de d . for whose Revolutionary services she claims a pension" is rec d & has been forwarded to Hon. Seth Sprague Jun. of Duxbury who prepared Mrs. Gylas papers. Mr. Sprague passed through town on his way to Nantucket a day or two since & wished me to write you in reply to your letter before mentioned. I have no personal recollection of the case & write now from the conversation with Mr. Sprague.
Mrs. Gylas claims that Peirce "was a private in the Years service in Massachusetts ending Dec r . 1776."
12 In your letter you say in relation to this service "As there are no rolls of the Years service in 1776 "to be found, the proof must rest upon the testimony "of others."
Mr. Sprague informs me that he sent with the papers the Affidavit of Judah Selden who is now living & was an Officer in the Company in which Peirce performed this service. Major Selden is one of our most respectable citizens & his testimony is to be implicitly relied upon. I do not know that from the above remark but

you admit that service to be proved by Alden's affidavit. Alden was one of the Company Officers & if his testimony is not sufficient of course no similar testimony could avail.
As to the second term of 6 months under Capt Andrew Sampson the roll which you have seems to set aside that term.
As to the third & fourth terms under Capt. Stephen Churchill & under Solomon Bartlett you say that there is no evidence that there ever were any such Captains in the Massachusetts Militia.
As to Stephen Churchill in my examination of the Revolutionary Claims frequent mention has been made of service under this Capt. He commanded at the Gurnet & on the shores of Plymouths harbour.
Solomon Bartlett was not a Captain but he maintained a Sergeants guard at the Gurnet of 40 or more men. This is abundantly shown by Gen. Goodwin's Books. I will state three cases in my recollection of persons in this town who were pensioned under the act of June 7. 1832 for service under Solomon Bartlett & for no other service as I am informed & that you may seem to their papers I will name

them, They were William Burgep, John Burgep & Deacon Solomon Churchill. William Burgep & Deacon Churchill are now dead. John Burgep is still living & is well known to me. Deacon Churchill if I am not mistaken visited you in person before he was pensioned. Now if on exam- ination of their papers you become satisfied that there was a service under Solomon Bartlett which you have recognised & pensioned I suppose you will accord the 8 months claimed for this service as I am informed by Mr. Sprague that it is well sustained by affidavits. They can offer no other evidence as to the service at present.
If you admit the Years service first named & the 8 months under Solomon Bartlett & do not feel satisfied as to the service under Stephen Churchill you may issue a Certificate for the Year & 8 mo. & if we can substantiate the service under Churchill afterwards we shall attempt it
Yours with respect
Jacob H. Lord
th Hon. J. L. Edwards Washington D.C.

Lucy Glass (born) wife of W. P. Benj. Pierce Map Sur. Lt. J. H. Lord June 22 nd 1837 Admitted
Ad. 4 July. 1836

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14792
Lucy Glass Former Widow of Benjamin Pierce Rev. Rev. War.
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. 9 ; Page 276
[Arrangement of 1870.]