Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24369, for James Orr, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
continental mass
Orr, James Polly
W. 24369
CONTENTS

3025
Massachusetts
Polly Orr widow of James Orrs who was a private in the Mass s Line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of Nov r 1843 and sent to
W Ellis Dedham Mass c
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book 28 Vol. / Page 50

3359's Bolly Orr's Pension Application Nov-1838 3359 James
on July 27 on 75th day - Colt Williams
to the Hon. John D. Sleeper admd 20 mrs $66.66
Introduction
Report to the Subordinate at Dedham Mass W. Ellis

State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of said Court of Probate & that William Ellis is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Norfolk & that Augustus Peabody is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Suffolk & that their several respective signatures to these papers are genuine & true.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of Office this twenty third day of November A.D. 1838.
Jonathan H. Cobb
838 and the years he the ry, used was ice and May ous the h on town e ubre at

State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss
On this seven tenth day of November A.D. 1838 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Sherman Leland Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Norfolk Polly Orr, a resident of Roxbury in said County, aged seventy eight years who first being 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 A.D. 1838, entitled, "An Act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows"
viz. I Polly Orr of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being seventy eight years of age declare and say, that I am the Widow of James Orr late of said Roxbury, deceased who rendered military services to the United States in the Revolutionary war, and which, according to my own recollection and the best evidence within my knowledge, were performed as follows viz.
Eight months service as a Soldier in Capt Edward Williams Company and Col. John Grafton Regiment, at said Roxbury, and Cambridge near Boston, that this service began about the first of May A.D. 1775 and ended about the first of January A.D. 1776.
Also twelve months service as a Soldier in said Capt Edward Williams Company and Col. John Grafton's Regiment, by various marches, and at sundry places, first after the enemy left Boston in the month of March 1776, marched to the City of New York and after a stop of three weeks at that place, up the Hudson River to Albany, thence to Schenectady on Lake Champlain, thence down the Lake to St Johns in Canada, thence down the River Chambly to Sorelle on the River St Lawrence, thence down the St Lawrence in Batteaux till the troops of Genl Montgomery and St. Laland were met on their retreat from Quebec, thence up the St Lawrence to Montreal, at which time that City surrendered to the American Arms, with but little resistance, thence back to St Johns at the outlet of Lake Champlain, here most of Col. Grafton Regiment had the Small Pox, thence up this lake to Ticonderoga in the State of New York and reported to Genl Gates then Commandant at that Post, after a stay at this Post for two or three months, said Capt Williams' Company and Col. Grafton Regiment moved south by way of Albany to Claverack on the Hudson River, thence to Morristown and several other places in the State of New Jersey, where the year's service ended, thus making a term of 20 months contin d service - that this term of twelve months service, began and ended, with the year A.D. 1776.
That it is known, that a number of men in several of the companies in said Col. Grafton's Regiment volunteered at the solicitation of Washington the Commander in Chief and served, from the first of January till March 1777, after the year's service ended - Whether the said James Orr, my late husband was one who thus volunteered, I have found no means to determine.
That to my knowledge, the said James Orr, my late husband, never received any Pension or gratuity from the United States nor from any State, That I believe he the said Orr rendered the military services aforesaid as a volunteer, that all the proofs of the aforesaid services, in my power to obtain, are herewith transmitted, and that the said James Orr never had any permanent residence or home but within the town of Roxbury aforesaid.
And I the said Polly Orr, further declare and say, That my maiden name was Polly Pinckney. That I was lawfully married to the said James Orr, on the seventeenth day of May A.D. 1779, by the Rev. Mr Sewes, the Rector of the North Church in Boston. That my late husband, the said James Orr, died when abroad, at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, in the Autumn of the year A.D. 1789 - at which time he was master of a vessel in the merchant service, that I have remained a widow ever since that period. That I was not married to him the said James Orr prior to his leaving the military service aforesaid, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated.
Polly Orr
Sworn to, and Subscribed before the subscriber on the day and year first above written
S Leland

"Marriages in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine."
"May seventeenth. James Ott & Polly Pinckney."
I, William Cromwell of Boston in the county of Suffolk and state of Massachusetts, being of lawful age, do hereby testify and say that I am at this time Rector of Christ Church in said Boston, and have the custody and keeping of the Parish Register of said Church, and that the aforesaid extract showing the marriage of James Ott & Polly Pinckney, is a true copy of the record thereof made by Mr. Sewes, at that time, minister of the parish, with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows: viz
"Marriages in 1779."
"May 17th. James Ott and Polly Pinckney."
William Cromwell,
Rector of Christ Ch: Boston.
State of Massachusetts County of Suffolk ss November 22 1838 - Personally appeared William Cromwell above named, a credible witness, and subscribed, and made oath, that the foregoing statement by him made is true. Before me. Augustus Peabody Justice of the Peace for said County.

I Ebenezer Seaver of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts being seventy five years of age hereby testify and say that I was personally and intimately acquainted with James Orr late of said Roxbury deceased; when the Revolutionary War began in the year 1775, and for several years afterwards, said Orr was somewhat older than myself, but we were school mates when boys. And I further testify and say, that according to my best recollection and confident belief, the said James Orr engaged and served as a soldier for the term of eight months in Capt Edward Williams' Company Col. John Greaton's Regiment at Roxbury and Cambridge near Boston, when the Enemy occupied Boston in the year A.D. 1775 - and that after this eight months service ended, the said James Orr engaged, and served as a soldier, under the said Capt Edward Williams in Col. Greaton's Regiment at Cincinatti and other places, during the year's service in the year A.D. 1776. That it distinctly occurs to my mind, that soon after the said James Orr returned home from the above described military service, he embarked in the Privateer service for a very considerable time, and that after the close of the Revolutionary War, the said James Orr engaged as Master of a Vessel in the merchant service, and died of sickness in some of the southern States. That for many years I have been acquainted with Polly Orr, the Widow of James Orr, and that she still survives, and resides in said town of Roxbury.
Ebenezer Seaver
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss.
November 22 1838, Then personally appeared the above named Ebenezer Seaver, for many years a member of Congress of the United States, and Credible Witness who subscribed to, and made Oath, that the matter set forth in the foregoing Statement is true.
Before me W. H. Ellis Justice of Peace

I John Clapp of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts being seventy four years of age hereby testify and say, that I was personally acquainted with James Orr of said Roxbury from about the year A.D. 1780 till his death, that according to my best recollection and belief, he died in the fall or winter, either of the year 1789 or 1790, at Virginia, or some of the Southern States; I distinctly remember of the arrival of a letter to Polly Orr his wife or some other person, bringing the tidings of said James Orr's death to Roxbury —. And I further say that I know the fact both by recollection and by my Book entries, that said Polly Orr resided with me as a housekeeper several months, in the Summer and Autumn of the year A.D. 1793, and was then a widow, and had two or three Children — and that the said Polly Orr has, from my first acquaintance with her and the said James Orr her husband, resided in my immediate neighborhood in said Roxbury. And I further testify and say, that I am knowing to the fact that the said Polly Orr has not intermarried since the death of her said husband, but remains the widow of said James Orr at the present time —.
John Clapp
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss
November 22 d 1838. Then personally appeared the above named John Clapp, long known to the subscriber as a credible witness, and subscribed to, and made Oath, that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement by him so subscribed, is true —
Before me W m G. Ellis Justice of Peace

Reg  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24869
Dolly Orr
wid. of
James Orr.
Priv. Rev. war
Act: March 3rd 1843.
Index:—Vol. 0 , Page 102
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Massachusetts - L. & L. 2
Polly Orr, widow of James Orr,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the _____ 1789 of Norfolk in the State of Massachusetts who was a Per. in the Campy commanded by Captain Williams of the Regt. commanded by Grafton - in the Mass. line for 20 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 66 - Dollars 66 - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of August 39, and sent to Tom Ellis and Dedham, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March - $199.98 Semi-annual allowance ending 33.33 $233.31
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burgess Clerk Book A Vol. 1 - Page 118.

Let V. Wm Ellis, May 17: 1829 -

James L. Edwards Esq. U.S. Com r of Pensions Washington City

- Dedham November 23 - 1838
Sir
Herewith is transmitted the Pension application of Polly Orr of Roxbury Mass 71 some of the aged people of Roxbury suppose that the Captain's name under whom James Orr served in the Revolution, was Edward P. Williams but neither of the witnesses who testified, recollect that such was the fact, tho' it may be, that said Capt Williams had a middle name that required the initial P. — Some of the aged People of Roxbury stated with much interest that said Polly Orr was brought up from her youth in the family of Mrs. Warren, the mother of General Joseph Warren who fell in the Battle of Bunker Hill —
Respectfully Yours Ob t
Service
W m Ellis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 30 th 1829
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 Orr is borne on a "Muster Roll of Capt. Edward Payson Williams Company in the 36 th Regiment of foot in the Continental Army encamp't in Fort No. 2. October 3 rd 1775, as a Private from Roxbury.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July, 19. 1843
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereto attached, William Ellis was a Justice of the peace for the County of Norfolk.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Isaac D. Dole
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

2940
Polly Orr's Claim Pension Act March 3 d 1843.
Please to report the result to the Subscriber at Dedham. Mass. tt.
Yrs Wm Ellis
Wm Ellis Justice of Peace
adm d 66 66
Wm Ellis Dedham Mass.

State of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss.
On this tenth day of May A.D. 1843. Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the Peace in and for said County, Polly Orr a resident of Roxbury in said County of Norfolk aged eightythree years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed March 3-A.D. 1843, granting Pensions to certain widows whose deceased husbands rendered military services in the Revolutionary war.
Vis. that she is the widow of James Orr late of Roxbury Mass. who as private rendered military services to the United States in the war of the Revolution, and who died at Norfolk in Virginia in the year A.D. 1789. That she is the identical person, Polly Orr, who made application for a Pension under the Act of Congress of July 7 th A.D. 1838, and on November 23-1838, transmitted to the U.S. Pension Department with her application, the requisite proofs of said James Orr's Revolu d services, and the proof of her lawful Marriage to him the said James Orr her late husband deceased, and that she subsequently received a Certificate, granting her a Pension of $66 66. per annum for a term of five years, from March 4 th 1836, to March 4 th 1841. that she received the amount of said five year Pension, and at the receipt of the last payment thereof, she surrendered said Certificate to the Agent of the United States for paying Pensions at Boston in the State of Massachusetts.
That she has not intermarried since the death of her said husband, but continues still, the widow of said James Orr dec d , and is now eightythree years of age.
Polly her Orr mark
Witness
sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year first above written
Polly B. Sloan
Before me. Wm Ellis Justice of Peace
And I further certify, that the above named applicant Polly Orr, is personally known to me to be the identical person who was pensioned under the Act of July 7 th A.D. 1838, as she has above stated.
Wm Ellis Justice of Peace

Dedham Mass May 30 th 1839
Mr Edwards
Sir
I herewith transmit the Sunday's Certificate, to be used in the case of Polly Orr. showing the eight months service of James Orr, her late husband, agreeable to the suggestion in your Note of May 17 th 1839.
James L. Edwards Esq Washington City
Very Respectfully your O b Servant
H. A. Ellis