Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8276, for Mark Pitman, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy (N. 26.)
Pitman, Mark Mary
R 8276
CONTENTS

V 1588 Mary Pitman Wid of Mark N.H. At 7 July 38
Wm B Parker Portland N.H.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
STATE of New Hampshire } ss : COUNTY of Rockingham —————
On this Eleventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight — , personally appeared before
The Honourable John Harvey , Judge of Probate de in and for said County, at a Probate Court held at Portsmouth , in and for said County on the day aforesaid
Mary Pitman —————, a resident of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham — aged Eighty Four — 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, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of Mark Pitman —————, who was a Seaman on board the Rollo, Ship of War in the Revolutionary War , commanded by Capt. Thomas Thompson , the first cruise of said Ship in the years 1776 and 1777 of which she believes said cruise lasted about one year: — Her said Husband was also one cruise on board the Ranger ship of War, she does not know, whether the first cruise under John Paul Jones Esq or one of the succeeding cruises, of that Ship under the command of Capt Thomas Simpson : — She does not know how long this cruise lasted, but supposes one year or upwards. —————

She further declares that she was married to the said Mark Pitman on the _____ day of May in the year seventeen hundred and Seventy Nine ; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seven- teen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated. That her husband, the aforesaid Mark Pitman died on the 24 th day of September Seventeen hundred and eighty six: And also, that she, this declarant, has remained his Widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. The word " Raleigh " underlined before signing. Her
Witnesses
W. B. Parker
Mary
X Pitman in ink
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before
John Harvey Judge of Probate
I John Kelly Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Appoint- ment of Mary Pitman for a Passman In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this eleventh day of September A.D. 1830 John Kelly Register of Probate

Town Clerk's Office Portsmouth N.H. 18 th Sept r 1838
I John Bennett Clerk of the Town of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire hereby certify:—That the following is an extract from the record kept for recording Marriages in said town of Portsmouth viz—
"Mark Pitman and Mary Melcher both of Portsmouth Married by Rev Sam l Ha- ven May seventeen hundred seventy nine" "Recorded May 28 th 1779"
as appears by said records.
I John Bennett Clerk of the aforesaid Town, of Portsmouth hereby certify, that the above is a true extract from the original records of said Town, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible letters and figures, as follows:
"May 1779"
John Bennett, Town Clerk
I John Bennett above named, depose and say:—That I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town of Portsmouth
in the County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Portsmouth with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Sworn before me,
on the day, month and year first above written.
Wm B. Parker, Notary Public.

I John Melcher of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, testify and say:
That I was well acquainted with Mark Pitman, who is reputed to be a revolutionary Sailor, who married Mary Melcher on or about the year 1779: That said Mark Pitman died on or about the year 1786, and I know that she has remained his Widow ever since the time of his decease.
J Melcher
State of New Hampshire } Rockingham County — } Jst:
Portsmouth the 10th day of September 1838.
Subscribed and sworn to, the day, month and year last aforesaid: Before me: —
I also certify that I have been acquainted with this affiant for upwards of Twenty years, and that he is, in my opinion, a credible and respectable witness.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my Notarial Seal, the day, month and year last aforesaid.
Wm B. Parker, Notary Public.

State of New Hampshire Rockingham
I John Kelly Registrar of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify that William B Parker is a Notary Public for said State and that the signatures purporting to be his on this paper and the paper hereto annexed connected with the affidavits of John Bennett and John Mel- cher are genuine and in his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 11th day of September A.D. 1830
John Kelly Registrar of Probate

1889 Sep 30 A.A. Stocker M.D. Prior not entitled Prior
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8276
P. O.
Mary Pitman Service: Marks
1-0 11-0
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Sept 30 1889
In reply to your inquiry of the 23 rd inst. relative to the application for pension, made by Mary, widow of Mark Pilman, who served, as she alleged, as a seaman in the war of the Rev. but did not subsequently  specify the contents of his  I have to state same, and instead of his service being "well proved by living witnesses" there was not filed the testimony of even one witness nor does it appear that an effort thereafter was made to establish her claim.
While certain the acts of Congress granted pensions to those soldiers & seamen as well as their widows who survived the passage of said acts, they do not contain any provision for the benefit of their children or grandchildren. There is no law existing which will give to his descendant the right to claim a pension, or any other gratuity on account of his Rev. service.

Mary Putnam Wid of Mark N.H. Ad 7 July Sm. Lt. M.B. Parker Nov 29. 1838
8219

Old 705
CHM
  DEPARTMENT — OF THE — INTERIOR Bd. Pens. Appeals.  RECEIVED, SEP 25 1889.  
Dep't of the Interior
SEP 26 9 Respectfully Referred to the Com'r of Pensions.
Lyons P. Casey

To the Hon Sec y of Interior Washington D.C.
Sir
Information on the following Subject is respectfully desired: Mark Pitman of New Hampshire, was a Revolutionary Soldier. Mary Melcher Pitman his widow died in the year 1850. Some years prior to her death, she made claim for a pension, but for lack of documentary Evidence (although the fact of his service was well known by living witnesses) she failed to obtain her pension - at the time of rejection - there was as I understand several thousand dollars of accrued pension due her. the special point of inquiry which I would like answered

As has a dividend of said Mark and Mary Pitman any claim upon the Government for the amount of the accrued pension or any standing in the premises.
Kindly give the desired information and greatly oblige Very truly
Yours. Old Lord Alfred A. Stocker M.D. late Surgeon
13. Prospect Cambridge Mass
3rd Regt Mass Vet Vols
Sept 23rd 1889
Grandson of Mark and Mary Melcher Pitman
P.S.
I have recently found all necessary evidence to establish her claim

Portsmouth, N.H. 12th September 1838.
Hon: James L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir, Enclosed herewith is the claim of Mary, the widow of Mark Pitman, to a pension under the Act of the 7th July 1838.
Any correspondence necessary to elucidate this claim, or her pension-certificate if it be awarded her, I request may be addressed to me, at this place.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your Obedt Servant,
Wm B. Parker.