Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 34475, for Joseph Peirce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Pierce, Joseph. Pierce of
§ 34475
CONTENTS
[Faint, illegible handwriting and scribbles on the left side of the CONTENTS section]
[Blank lined area on the right side of the CONTENTS section]

740
Massachusetts Roll
Joseph Pierce, 1771 Capt Pritchard
Sergeant
Massachusetts line 1775 2 years In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th of May 1818 and sent to Hon. Edward Bangs, Worcester, Mass
Arrearages to 4 th Sept r 1818 4 months 21/30 $37.60
{Revolutionary claims, {Act 18th March, 1818,}
Discontinued on A.B. remanated
Reference to Mr. ... 1820 ... which Boston Worcester Mass.
Date of death not obs.

Joseph Pierce.
14 Apr
Correct JH

State of Massachusetts, County of Worcester. I Joseph Pierce a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Sterling in the County of Worcester, in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on the fall of the year 1776
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 fall of the year 1779.
as a sergeant private against the common enemy, without any interrup- tion or absence: that I belonged to Captain Abijah Childs Company in Colonel Greadons Regiment and Genl. Vixons Brigade on the Massachusetts line After the first eight months Captain Childs commanded the Company and that I left the service on the fall of the year 1779.
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 sixty seven years, having had a large family and much trouble in body and mind.
I had an honorable discharge, but that and my Sergeants warrant are both lost out of my possession
And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Joseph Pierce
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this 14 th day of April 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, Edward Bangs one of the Judges of the General Court of Common Pleas in said State comprising said County of Worcester.
the abovenamed Joseph 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 du- ly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true, as I have offered the same of said Court
Edward Bangs

I Thomas Wright of Sterling in the county of Worcester, do on oath testify and declare that I have well known the within named Joseph Pierce for more than twentyfive years — and that I believe that full faith and credit is to be given to his declaration within. — The said Pierce being a poor man, and his memory somewhat impaired, it is possible he may have misstated some of the dates.
Thomas Wright
Worcester ss. April 14. 1878.
Personally appeared the above named Wright and made oath to the truth of the above statement. Before Isaac Goodwin. J. M. H. Spear

Joseph Pierce Sterling Mo.
740
May 18 Notary Public
I, ABRAHAM RIGGINS, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the foregoing State, and I do further certify that in the foregoing Oath, and the foregoing Statute, the words "the foregoing State" herein contained are the words of the said Statute, and not of this Oath.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of the said Court, on this day personally appeared Joseph Pierce, known to me to be the person described in and who proved to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Oath, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of May, 1840. ABRAHAM RIGGINS, Clerk.
Abra.

Schedule of the Estate of Joseph Pierce of Sterling, in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress of May 1. 1820.
I have a Mortgage due of about 20 acres of land from my son Isaac Pierce, conditioned for my support and maintenance during my natural life; but my said son neither possesses the ability, nor is there any provision by virtue of said mortgage, for the support of my wife.
I possess also - 1 old Gun $3.00 1 old Hoe .33 1 old Port axe .50 1 hammer .17 $4.00
I am, by occupation, a Farmer. My family consists of myself and wife. And by reason of my advanced age, and a debility of my stomach, I am unable to perform scarcely any labour. My wife is 62 years of age, and is able, by her labour, to contribute very little towards her support. And should I be deprived of my pension, I could not support my wife without the aid of publick or private charity.
Joseph Pierce.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this twenty second day of June 1820,
personally appeared in open Court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Worcester, established as such by the laws of said Commonwealth, Joseph Peirce aged sixty eight years, resident in Sterling, in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
Enlisted as nearly as I can recollect, some time in the year 1777, into the land service of the United States, in what was called the three years service and served accordingly for the term of three years, as a sergeant in Capt. Butchard's Company, and Col. John Gualdon's Regiment, of the Massachusetts Line. Under the Act of Congress of March 18. 1818, I received a Pension Certificate No 740; and my original declaration bore date April 14. 1818.
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.
Joseph Peirce.
Sworn to and declared, on the twenty second day of June 1820. before the said Court.
Attest,
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the 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 said Joseph Peirce has property to the amount of  total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule,
is four dollars and land of three hundred and fifty dollars, mortgaged to secure the support of said Joseph Peirce.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty second day of June 1820.
Abijah Bigelow Clerk of the Court for the County of Worcester.

March 8, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joseph Peirce-S.34475 BA-J/AWF aw
Mrs. E. G. Huffer 912 South Fifth Street Springfield, Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Joseph Pierce of Sterling, Massachusetts.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.34475, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Joseph Peirce, as his signature is found in the claim.
The date and place of birth of this soldier are not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parents stated.
Joseph Peirce enlisted in 1776 and served as private and sergeant in Captains Abijah Childs' and Pritchard's companies, Colonel Greaton's Massachusetts regiment and was discharged in May, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed, April 14, 1818, then aged sixty-seven years and residing in Sterling, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Mary, wife of the soldier, Joseph Peirce, was living in 1811, she died between that year and 1820, her maiden name and date of their marriage is not given. He married Lucy Parks, who in 1823 was seventy-six years old, there are no further details as to this wife. The soldier's son, Isaac, was living in 1820 in Sterling, Massachusetts.
The soldier's large family is referred to, there

in this claim are no further data containing concerning his family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address to whom sent and possibly the date of death of the pensioner, Joseph Peirce, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, War Department, Washington, D. C., citing the following data-
Joseph Pierce, as he was pensioned Certificate No. 740 Issued May 28, 1818 Rate $8.00 per month To commence April 14, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 Massachusetts Agency
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Joseph Pierce.
Sep 18.

Memorandum of an Agreement, made this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one, by and between Isaac Pierce, of Sterling, in the County of Worcester, Yeoman, of the one part, and Joseph Pierce, of said Sterling, Yeoman, of the other part— Witnesseth, That the said Isaac Pierce, in consideration of the covenants of the said Joseph, herein after mentioned, doth hereby covenant and agree to and with the said Joseph, that, from the date hereof, so long as the said Joseph's present wife lives, he will furnish, deliver and pay to the said Joseph, annually, and each year, during the life of his wife, aforesaid, five bushels of good merchantable corn— five bushels of good merchantable rye— eight bushels of good potatoes— two barrels of whole cider— one hundred pounds of good pork— twenty pounds of good butter— ten dollars worth of clothing, in such articles as said Joseph needs and requests— said Isaac having thirty days previous notice— Three dollars worth of sugar and tea. Said articles of grain, meat, butter, cider, and sugar and tea, to be delivered at said Joseph's dwelling house in Lincoln, in the month of December, annually, or at such other time or times as the said Isaac and Joseph may agree upon hereafter.— And shall also pay to the said Joseph the sum of four dollars annually, at the end of each year from the date hereof for his doctoring).
And the said Joseph Pierce, on his part, covenants and agrees to and with the said Isaac Pierce, that in consideration of his fulfilling his agreements and covenants aforesaid by delivering the articles and paying the money as above mentioned and specified, that he will, and does hereby release and discharge the said Isaac from all the conditions & obligations he is under to support and maintain the said Joseph, by virtue of the condition of a certain Mortgage deed, made about ten years since by said Isaac to me the said Joseph and Mary my then wife.
In witness whereof, we the said Isaac Pierce and Joseph Pierce have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of John Porter Moses Smith
Isaac Pierce. . . . (a seal) Joseph Pierce. . . . (a seal)
True Copy of original agreement referred to in the opinion of the Court as within certified.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

Small articles of personal property annexed to my former Schedule, as follows, — viz. —    One old gun  $3.00    1 hoe, 33. 1 axe 1 hammer, 67  1.00     4.00  
The gun I have sold to Carlton and Sawyer, of Lancaster, Traders, for three dollars, and the proceeds I recd. in groceries that were consumed in my family.
The real estate mortgaged to me as collateral security for the performance of a bond, conditioned for my maintenance, and that of my former wife, Mary. That said Mary has deceased, and I have married another wife, Lucy, Parks, whose support did not come within the provision of the bond, and consequently devolved upon me. And by reason of her long sickness exhausted all my means of subsistence. I therefore, by advice of the Selectmen of said Town of Sterling, October 13. 1821, compromised with said Isaac Pierce, the obligor, in said bond; and in lieu thereof, I received from said Isaac, a covenant to furnish me certain specific articles, as enumerated, and on the conditions as set forth in said Covenant, which is hereto annexed. That said Isaac furnished said articles in December 1821; but before the next year, to wit, in December 1822, he became so reduced by poverty and sickness, that he became, and still remains unable to furnish said articles. That I have not been furnished with any clothing, altho' in great need, nor any means to pay my physician, nor pay the expenses of any sickness, whereby myself and family have greatly suffered. And the said Isaac has become so reduced that he has no property whereby he can be compelled to comply with said Contract. — My occupation is farming; but I am now so old and infirm as to be unable to labour in consequence of a weakness in the stomach. My wife is seventy six years of age, and is too old to labour for her support in consequence of her sickness. I have made application to the Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Sterling, for our support; but have been delayed by them, and I cannot support myself and family without the aid of public or private charity. In my first statement in July, 1820, I was mistaken in the age of my wife; she was then seventy three years of age. And I have no other person in my family. —
Joseph Pierce.
Wryah Wrigelow, Clk.

DECLARATION,
In order to be restored to the Pension List, under the Act of the 1st March, 1823.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of WORCESTER, ss.
ON this eighteenth day of June, — 1823, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record for the County of Worcester, Joseph Peirce , resident in Sterling — in said County, aged Seventy one years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the Acts of Congress, of the 18th March, 1818, and the 1st May, 1820, that he, the said Joseph Peirce , enlisted for the term of three years — on the or about the first day of January , — in the year 1777 . — in the State of Massachusetts , in the Company commanded by Captain Pritchard , — in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Cretton , in the line of the State of Massachusetts — on the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps until about the eighth of May, 1780 , — when he was discharged from the said service, in Soldiers' Fortune , in the State of New York — ; that his name has been placed on the Pension List, and dropt therefrom on account of his property.
And, in pursuance of the Act of the 1st May, 1820, 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. That, since the exhibition of my first Schedule, the following changes have been made in my property:— ( See the Schedule annexed ) — Joseph Peirce .
Sworn to, and declared, on the eighteenth day of June , — A. D. 1823, before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Worcester. — Attest, Abijah Bigelow, Cler.
I, Abijah Bigelow , Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the said Court, that the said Joseph Peirce did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding Declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, under one engagement, on the Continental establishment. I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records 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 four dollars, and it is further the opinion of the Court, that Isaac Peirce who executed the foregoing oath , I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on the eighteenth day of June , 1823, an agreement with Joseph Peirce to furnish certain articles, annually, to said Joseph , has very little property, not exceeding $150.— and is able to furnish but a small portion of the articles mentioned in said agreement. — In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this eighteenth day of June, 1823. Abijah Bigelow, Cler.

To the Hon. John C. Calhoun Secretary of War. Respectfully, &c.
Joseph Pierce of Sterling in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts that he served as a private on the Massachusetts line on the Continental establishment, in Col. Grafton's Regiment and Capt. Pritchard's company - That he is now so poor and reduced as to be unable to support himself without publick or private charity - That he is not the owner of any property whatever, other than the clothes he now wears - That he has not at any time conveyed or disposed of any of his property so as to bring himself within the provisions of the any of the acts of Congress, providing for certain persons engaged in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war, and that no person has in trust for him any property or securities, contracts or debts due to him excepting what is contained in the bond herewith annexed and that the obligor in said bond after becoming completely reduced in his circumstances, left this part of the country, for the Western States, and has not since been heard of, nor is it known where he resides - whereby the said bond is of no benefit to me, nor have I any collateral security whatever for the payment of said bond - Wherefore the said Joseph prays, that his name may be restored to the pension list Joseph Pierce
Worcester ss. Dec. 11. 1823.
Personally appeared Joseph Pierce and made oath to the truth of the above memorial.
Before Isaac Goodwin. Jus. of Peace

Memorandum of an agreement made, this 13 th day of October 1821, by and between Isaac Pierce of Sterling in the County of Lancaster, Yeoman of the one part, and Joseph Pierce of said Sterling of the other part. Witnesseth, that the said Isaac Pierce, in consideration of the covenants of the said Joseph Pierce herein after mentioned, doth hereby covenant and agree to and with the said Joseph, that from the date hereof so long as the said Joseph's present wife lives, he will furnish, deliver and pay to the said Joseph annually, and each year during the life of his said wife, five bushels of good merchantable corn, five bushels of good merchantable rye, eight bushels of good potatoes, two barrels of whole cider, one hundred pounds of good pork, twenty pounds of good butter, ten dollars worth of clothing in such articles as said Joseph needs and requests, said Isaac having thirty days notice, three dollars worth of sugar and tea. Said articles of grain, meat butter, cider & sugar and tea, to be delivered at said Joseph's dwelling house in Lincoln, in the month of December annually, or at such other time & place as the said Isaac and Joseph may agree upon hereafter and shall also pay to the said Joseph the sum of four dollars annually at the end of each year from the date hereof for his doctoring.
And the said Joseph Pierce on his part, covenants and agrees to and with the said Isaac Pierce, that in consideration of his fulfilling his agreement and covenants aforesaid, by delivering the articles and paying the money as above mentioned & specified that he will, and does hereby release and discharge the said Isaac from all the conditions and obligations he is under to support and maintain the said Joseph, by virtue of the condition of a certain mortgage deed, made about ten years since, by said Isaac to me the said Joseph, and Mary my then wife. In witness whereof in the said Isaac & Joseph Pierce have hereunto set our hands and seals, the day and year first above mentioned.
Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of John Porter Moses Smith
(Signed)
Isaac Pierce Joseph Pierce
(Seal) (Seal)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Witnesseth. That Isaac Goodwin of Sterling in the County of Worcester, a Notary publick and Justice of the peace for the said County, duly qualified and sworn, to act in said Office, do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the contract and agreement made between the said Isaac and Joseph Pierce, the original of which is now in my Office. — And I do further certify that the Memorial hereto annexed, was signed, and sworn to in my presence — and the facts therein set forth are substantially known to me personally, as just and true. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my Notarial Seal to be affixed, at said Sterling this Sixteenth day of December, in the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
Isaac Goodwin.

Hon. John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War Washington
Recd 6 Dec 1823
Joseph Dennie
March 1823
Sept 1823

Sterling Massachusetts (Dec r 17, 1823.
Hon. John C. Calhoun Sec y of War,
Sir,
I am requested by Joseph Pierce of this place, to inclose to you, a Memorial from him. He heretofore made application to have his name restored to the Pension list under the act of March 1. 1823. His claim was rejected at the Pension Office, probably on account of the Bond, a copy of which is annexed to his petition.
It is a fact, that he is now ready to prove by competent evidence that the bond is not worth a cent, that the obligor is insolvent, has absconded, leaving no property whatever, and that the applicant has no collateral security whatever — and that he is now extremely destitute & in favor & dependent upon charity for his support. —
And it is respectfully inquired, whether his case cannot be reconsidered by the proper Department, & in what manner the additional evidence must be authenticated, if it is admissible consistent with the rules of the War Office. —
Yours respectfully Isaac Goodwin

INVALID.
File No. 84,475
Joseph Pierce Serg Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 489
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1934. made & stuck to Mrs. E. S. Huffer Aug 3

MRS. E. G. HUFFER 912 SOUTH FIFTH STREET SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
Feb. 19, 1934.
U. S. Pension Bureau Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs,
Would you please send me a copy of the Pension given my Revolutionary War ancestor Joseph Pierce . He was living in Lancaster, Mass. at the time the War broke out and died in Sterling, Mass. If our record is correct he was born in 1752 and died in 1825.

Would appreciate any details you may have in connection with the Pension issued him.
Could you give me an early reply as I need a copy to verify my D.A.R. record? I thank you!
Very truly yours, Minnie Pierce Huffer (Mrs. E. G.)