Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26,863, for Benjamin Pierce, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. H.
Pierce, Benjamin ~ Peirce, Peace
N 26,863
CONTENTS

944
Maine
Benjamin Pierce
of South Berwick the State of Maine - who was a Pirate in the Company commanded by Captain E. L. Dearing of the ... commanded by ... in the Massachusetts line for Nine Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 30. Dollars Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23. day of October 1832 and sent to Burleigh & Hebb, South Berwick Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832, 45 - Pension, allowance ending 4 mths 93 15  $60
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk, Book D, Vol. 1, Page 75

Benja. Pierce
9 months
South Berwick Me
Private, Militia
No 1784.
Private
$30 per ann
sent to Burleigh & Noble South Berwick Maine
23 Oct

State of Maine.
COUNTY OF YORK, SS.
ON this Fifteenth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Wm. A. Hales, Judge of the Court of Probate  now sitting at South Berwick
I John Stevens of Hitting in the County of York and State of Maine aged twenty three years of sound mind and memory affirm and declare that Benjamin Pease of South Berwick in said County served in the Revolutionary War for the term of nine months commencing in the Spring of 1781 in Captain Emerson's Company at Fort Washington in Portsmouth Harbor N.H. that I served with the said Pease in the same Company during said time and have personal knowledge of his service as aforesaid
Witness Jonathan Hammond in John Stevens mark
York ss August 14 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named John Stevens a credible person and disinterested and affirmed to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me Jonathan Hammond  Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
YORK, SS.
I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Jonathan Hammond, Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for said County of York , as above stated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this fifteenth day of August , in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen , Register of Probate.

State of Maine.
COUNTY OF YORK, SS.
ON this Fifteenth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Wm. A. Hales, Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at South Berwick, Benjamin Pierce a resident of South Berwick in the county of York and State of Maine aged Seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
he enlisted in April or May A. D. 1781 as a private in the militia service for the term of Nine months , left home soon after he enlisted and served said term under the following named officers viz. Capt Ebenezer Deering, Lieut Joseph Huntton, and Ensign Meshack Bell , he does not recollect the names of any other officers, he resided in Somersworth N.H. when he entered the service, he marched from said Somersworth to Fort Washington on the Piscataqua River near Portsmouth (N.H.) Harbour, where he served the whole of the term aforesaid in guarding the Fort and the Harbour.
he was engaged in no battles, he left the service in February A.D. 1782 , never had any written discharge. John Stevens of Kelley , who is now living, served in the same company with him during said term and will testify to the above service, that Wm A. Tompson a clergyman residing in South Berwick in said County and John G. Tompson residing in said South Berwick
are well acquainted with him and can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution,
he was born in Somersworth March 26. 1760 and resided there after he left the service until 1794, then he moved to Berwick , what is now South Berwick and has lived there ever since, there is a record of his age on the records of the Congregational Church in Somersworth aforesaid .

er since, there is a record of his age on the records of the Congregational Church in Somersworth aforesaid.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of Maine
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Benja Pierce
WE Wm A. Thompson , a clergyman, residing in the town of South Berwick and John G. Thompson , residing in the town of South Berwick hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benja Pierce , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Wm A. Thompson John G. Thompson
AND the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that William A. Thompson , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of South Berwick Maine , and that John G. Thompson , who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of South Berwick and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Wm. Cutter Allen , Registrar clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Pierce , for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifteenth day of August, A.D. 1832.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Registrar of Probate

Isaac Pierce
Widow of Benjamin Pierce, dec.
who was a pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832 and who died on the 23 d Dec r 1834 of S Berwick in the State of Maine who was a P er in the Comp y commanded by Captain Peabody of the Reg t commanded by [blank] in the Mass s line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Sept r 38, and sent to and John A. Hayes, S. Berwick, Me
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept r - $ 22 50 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 50 $ 24 00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 - Page 19

319
Declaration of Peace Prince memo of Benjamin
Me
act 7. July 38
5 years -
married Dec. 1792
adm. (
9 mo. fri.
30 ff
no deductions.
Wm A. Hays S. Berwick Me

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1838, entitled "An Act to granting half pay and pensions to Certain Widows"
State of Maine County of York ss. }
On this twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord, One thousand, eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me William A. Hovey Esquire, Judge of the Probate Court, being a Court of Record, within and for the County of York, in the State of Maine. Peace Pierce a resident of South Berwick in the said County of York Widow aged sixty eight 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 7th 1838, entitled, "An Act granting half pay and pensions to Certain Widows" - that she is the widow of Benjamin Pierce, late of said South Berwick deceased - that the said Benjamin Pierce served against the Common enemy in the Revolutionary war, both by Sea and Land, as is more fully specified in the Declaration of said Benjamin Pierce, now on the files of the Pension Department for the Maine Agency at Washington, which declaration was made by the said Benjamin in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of June 7th. 1832 - and upon which declaration a pension Certificate was issued to said Benjamin Pierce under said Act of 7th. of June 1832 - the said Benjamin Pierce, continued a pensioner under the Act last named up to the time of his death which was on the twenty third day of October 1834, and that since his death the said pension certificate has been returned to the Pension Agent at Portland, and is not now in

her possession -
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Pierce on the twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and Ninety two; that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Pierce died on the twenty third day of October in the year One thousand, Eight hundred and thirty four; that she was not married to him prior 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 -
Witness Mr. A. Hayes - Samuel Pierce
Peace X Prince Marks
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written before me Wm. A. Hayes Judge of Probate York County Maine
I William A. Hayes the above named Judge of Probate certify, that by reason of the great age and bodily infirmity of the said Peace Pierce, she is unable to travel & attend court Wm. A. Hayes Judge of Probate York County Maine

Extract from the records of the town of Berwick in the county of York and state of Maine viz:
"Benjamin Prince and Grace Thompson were married by the Rev. John Sampson December the twenty seventh in the year seventeen hundred and Ninety two"
I Joseph Prime clerk of said town of Berwick, certify that the foregoing is a true extract as it is on the records except the dates which are expressed on the records in fair legible figures as follows,
"December 27" (twenty seventh) "1792" seventeen hundred & ninety two -
Joseph Prime Town clerk
I Joseph Prime above named clerk and say that I held the office of town clerk in the Town of Berwick state aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of the same town with the exceptions aforesaid -
Joseph Prime Town clerk
State of Maine
county of York ss - July 27th A.D. 1838 Subscribed and sworn to by the above named Joseph Prime
Before me Wm. A. Hayes Justice of the Peace York county Maine
I William Allen Hayes the before named Justice of the Peace certify that the above named Joseph Prime, who is well known to me is a man of truth and his statements under oath are entitled to full credit
Wm A. Hayes Justice of the Peace

Mr Peace Pierce

I Samuel Pierce of South Berwick in the County of York and State of Maine aged forty four on the eighth day of August next depose testify and say that my father, Benjamin Pierce, late a revolutionary soldier, died on the twenty third day of October in the year eighteen hundred & thirty four, and that his widow, Sarah Pierce, being my mother is still living with me, having remained unmarried ever since the decease of my father, the said Benjamin Pierce
Samuel Pierce
State of Maine
County of York ss - July 28th A.D. 1830.
Sworn to and subscribed by the said Samuel Pierce Before me Wm. A. Hayes Just. Peace
I William A. Hayes the above named justice of the Peace certify that the above named Samuel Pierce, who is well known to me is a person of truth and veracity of his statements under oath are entitled to full cred it
Wm. A. Hayes Just. Peace

State of Maine.
York, ss.—
I, JOHN SKEELE, Register of the Court of Probate, within and for the County of York, being a Court of Record, hereby certify that William A. Hayes is Judge of said Court of Probate and that the said William A. Hayes is also a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and that the signatures to the papers hereunto annexed and purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- eight .
John Skeele } Register of Probate York County.

Reg
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 26863
Peace Pierce
wid of
Henry Pierce
Pr. Miss Vols
Act July 1 st 36
Index: Vol 21 , Page 124
[Arrangement of 1870.]

To the Hon. James B. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington

South Berwick (Maine) Aug. 11- 1830-
Hon. James L. Edwards
Sir,
Accompanying this letter I send you further evidence in the case of Deborah Whitehouse, which I think cannot fail to be satisfactory - The Deponents are among the most respectable people in this town & in Semmesworth N. H. - and are mostly well known to the Hon. Lewis Woodbury - & the Hon. Albion E. Parris - to whom I would refer, if you have any doubt of the reputation of the Deponents. If the marriage can be proved by witnesses, where the record is lost, it is done in this case - Mrs. Whitehouse is very poor & I hope you will give her a favorable reply as soon as convenient.
I send you 5- boxes under the late letter.
1. Ruth Libby 2. Ann Hodgdon 3. Sally or Sarah Parris 4. Betty Nason 5. Pearl Paine -
I enclose your department for the form of an application for a pension, for a widow & children whose husband died in the service during the late war, & belonged to the regular army - the precise time of the death of the soldier I cannot now state
Respectfully
Yours &c
Wm. A. Hayes