Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26305, for Abraham Pearce, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Pearce, Abraham Martha
NUMBER
W 26305
CONTENTS
1

Maine 4347
Martha Pearce, dec? widow of Abraham Pearce
Reported to Agent see letter
who died on the 7 th August 1825 of Poland, in the State of Maine who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Warner of the regt. commanded by in the Mass line for 5 months 26 days, P.R. 5 " 16 " Maine
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 42 Dollars 60 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Vending 10 th February 1842, when she died.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of April 1846, and sent to Freeman Bradford, Portland, Maine
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending Payable to Joseph Pearce, Daniel Pearce, Rebecca Rowe, Polly Atwood, Martha True, Arria Neriess, and Jane Royal, children of said Martha Pearce { Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the
Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk Book C. Vol. 1. Page 14.

District of Maine ss. On this 12 th day of November in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty five personally appeared before the Hon: Ashur Ware Judge of the United States for the District of Maine, Daniel Pearce a resident of the town of Poland in the State of Maine aged 54 years, who being first duly sworn, doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836.
And this declarant states that he is one of the children of Abraham and Martha Pearce late of New Gloucester deceased, that the other surviving children are Joseph Pearce Polly Atwood Martha True Anna Nevins Rebecca Rowe and Jane Royal.
And this declarant states that his father was a resident of Gloucester Mass: in the time of the war of the Revolution & he has repeatedly heard his father say that he was a soldier in revolution and he believes that he served in Capt Warner's Company in 1775 and in Capt Ellery's Company of Matross in 1776, as is particularly set forth in the Certificate

of the Secretary of State Mass: And this applicant believes that his father was in other towns of duty as he has heard him say that he was in an engagement with the enemy at one time when his half brother by the name of Daniel Callikham was shot down by his side. My father remov- ed to New Gloucester from Cape Ann about sixty one years ago, and resided in the the town of New Gloucester to the time of his death.
And this declarant states that his mother was married to his father aforesaid at Cape Ann as it was called more than 70 years ago and that said marriage was previous to the last period of his father's service that he knows of no record in ex- istence of his said marriage, but he believes that said record did formerly exist, in an old family Bible, which was burned about sixteen years ago, together with the dwelling house in which his mother then resided.
And this declarant states that his fa- ther died on the 7th of August 1825 and the said Martha his mother died on the 10th of February 1842 and that she was not married after the death of my father. as will appear by the testimony hereto

annexed. This applicant therefore claims in his own behalf and in behalf of the other children before named the pension due to his mother under the act of 1836 commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and ending on the 10th of February 1842.
Daniel Boone
Aug. 12 th 1840
Signed & sworn to before
Aspen Munn
District Judge of the United States for the District of Missouri

District of Columbia
I certify that it has been satisfactorily proved to me by the testimony of witnesses whom veracity may be relied upon that Abraham Pearce late of New Gloucester in this State died in New Gloucester on the 10th of February 1825 & left a widow Martha Pearce who died on the 10th of February 1842, & that Sarah Pearce Sarah Pearce Rebecca Nover Polly Allwood & Martha True Arvina Stevens & Sarah Royce are the children & only surviving children of the said Abraham & Martha Pearce
Jan'y 8. 1846
Asahel Wren District Judge of the U. S. for the District of Columbia

United States Maine District
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
I hereby certify that the Honorable Asbur Ware before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, is Judge of the United States in and for Maine District and that the signatures thereto purporting to be his - are genuine
And I further certify that Nathaniel L. In- gersoll and Freeman Bradford Esquires are Magistrates duly commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit are due to their official attestations.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Circuit Court this twentieth day of January A. D. Eighteen hundred and forty six.
John Mussey Clerk U.S. Circuit Court Maine

Danville Dec 20 th
Pa. 5-
Ammon Bradford Esq. Portland

I Jonathan Barea of New Gloucester in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine on oath testify and say that I am Sixty Seven years of age and was born in the Town of New Gloucester and have ever been internally a unitarian with Abrahams Pious wife of said Town and his widow I married one of the daughters of said Pious for my first wife who died six years ago the 30th of May next aged at that time nearly fifty seven years she was born October 8th 1783.
I always understood that Abrahams Pious married Martha Parsons at Gloucester Massachusetts. I have known them to live together as husband and wife for more than forty years previous to the death of the said Abrahams which was I think in 1825 and the widow Martha Pious died the tenth of February 1842 or near that time I believe that to be the time. the oldest child of said Abrahams and Martha if living would be about seventy years of age. I have no doubt that said Abrahams and Martha was lawfully married and about seventy one or two years ago

She, only surviving children of Sara Martha Paine and Joseph and Darius Paine. Rebecca Paine, Polly Atwood, Martha Paine, Maria Nevins, and Jane Royal. She said Abrahams and Martha Paine had thirteen children in all who all lived to grow up and marry. Jane Royal is the youngest of all the family and she is now forty six years of age.
Jonathan Paine
Hall of Maine September 17 th 1842 My husband Mr. Paine personally affirmed Jonathan Paine above named who is a man of truth and veracity Paine to sign to be such, and made oath that the above disposition by him signed is true before me N. L. Ingalls Justice the Peace

6683
Martha Pierce died Feb Jan 26. 1846 Mother of Abraham Mr
Act 4 July 1836
F. Bradford Married Oct 1772 husband died 1825 widow died 10 Feb 1842
Thomas Br...
enoble No 25th
10, 11

I Benjamin Witham of New Glou- cester in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine aged Seventy one years. on Oath testify and say that fifty six years ago I became acquainted with Abraham Pease and Martha his wife and was always well acquainted with them both from that time time until their death they had thirteen children six sons and seven daughters. The sons were Abraham, Joseph, William, Daniel, Jacob, and George, and the daughters were Hannah, Sally, Rebecca, Polly, Martha, Arina, and Jane. Since childhood all lived & grew up and many. The said Abraham first married Alice in August 1825 and the widow left by him died in Febry 1842. and was a widow at the time of her death. The said Abraham and Martha first married always lived together from my first acquaintance with them until the death of the husband and I have no doubt they were lawfully married.

The only surviving children of the late Abraham Lignier and Martha are Joseph, Daniel, Reuben, Ruth, Polly, Hester, Martha, Emma, Annie, Naomi, and Jane Royal. The late Abraham Lignier and Martha resided in Weymouth upon and in the same neighborhood with me from my first acquaintance until their death. I always understood that the late Martha Lignier was Martha Parsons before marriage. Benjamin Lignier
State of Maine
Cumberland ss November 24th 1845. Then the above named Benjamin Lignier well known to me to be a credible witness personally appeared and made oath that the above deposition by him signed is true before me Nathaniel Lignier Justin the Parsons

I Thomas Johnson hereby certify that I hold the office of Town Clerk of New Gloucester in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine and that in the Records of Births in said Town is the following Record viz
Record of the Births of the Offsprings of Abraham Pearce by Martha his wife who were all born in New Gloucester except Hannah and Abraham who were born in Gloucester Massachusetts. —
First. Hannah Pearce born August twenty second Seventeen hundred and seventy six — Second. Abraham Pearce born January sixth Seventeen hundred and seventy eight. — Third. Joseph Pearce born March ninth Seventeen hundred and eighty. Fourth. William Pearce born September twenty seventh Seventeen hundred and eighty one. Fifth. Sarah Pearce born October the eighth Seventeen hundred and eighty three. Sixth. Rebecca Pearce born May the twenty first Seventeen hundred and eighty five. Seventh. Polly Pearce born November twenty fourth Seventeen hundred and eighty six. Eighth. Martha Pearce born August the third Seventeen hundred and eighty eight. Ninth. Daniel Pearce born June the twenty ninth Seventeen hundred and ninety one. Tenth. Arvid Pearce born March the twenty ninth Seventeen hundred and ninety three. Eleventh. Jabez Pearce born February the twentieth Seventeen hundred and ninety five. Twelfth. George Pearce born March the third. Seventeen hundred and ninety seven. Thirteenth. Jane Pearce born January the twenty ninth Seventeen hundred and ninety nine.
I Thomas Johnson aforesaid further certify that the above is a true extract from the

Records of Births in said New Gloucester with the exception of the dates and numbers which is in plain fair legible figures as follows viz
1. Hannah Pearce born August 22 d 1776 2. Abraham Pearce born January 6 th 1778 3. Joseph Pearce born March 9 th 1780 4. William Pearce born September 27 th 1781 5. Sarah Pearce born October 8 th 1783 6. Rebecca Pearce born May 21 st 1785 7. Polly Pearce born November 24 th 1786 8. Martha Pearce born August 3 d 1788 9. Daniel Pearce born June 29 th 1791 10. Asa Pearce born March 29 th 1793 11. Jabez Pearce born February 20 th 1795 12. George Pearce born March 3 d 1797 13. Jane Pearce born January 29 th 1799
Thomas Johnson Town Clerk of New Gloucester
State of Maine Greenbearn 13 January 2 d 1846 Then personally appeared Thomas Johnson above named and made oath that the above certificate by him signed is true before me Nathaniel L. Ingersoll Justice the Peace

October 28 th 1845 Gloucester Mass.
Abigail Harris known to me as a person of good credit & veracity & made oath to the truth of the foregoing before me J. H. Cushman
Abigail Harris of New Gloucester in the County of Cumberland but now in Portland on oath upon Bible say that I am eighty years of age. I was born and lived in Cape Ann Mass. till I was about thirty years of age and have resided in New Gloucester ever since that time. When I went to New Gloucester from Cape Ann Abraham Pease and his wife then resided in said town of New Gloucester and then had a large family of children. I think that they had at the time I was first acquainted with them which is about 50 years ago ten children - I did not know said Pease and his wife in Cape Ann but they always told me that they were born there and removed from that time to New Gloucester. Abraham Pease died about 20 years ago - as near as I can recollect. His widow Martha died about three years ago and I should judge her to be over 80 years of age at that time. The only children of said Abraham and Martha now living are Daniel and Joseph Pease Polly Atwood Rebecca Root Martha True & Anna Stevens. Abraham & Martha Pease always lived together as husband and wife while I knew them. Said Abraham & Martha had children grown up when I first knew them and the oldest I should judge to be twenty years of age or more - at the time I first knew them sixty years ago.
Attest J. H. Cushman
Abigail Harris

I Nathaniel L. Ingersoll of Danville in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am fifty five years of age and have always lived in the towns of New Glou- cester & Danville. While I resided in the town of New Gloucester I was well acquaint- ed with Abraham Pearce & Martha Pearce his widow. Abraham Pearce died about twenty years ago and at the time of his death was about 75 years of age. His widow Martha died about three years ago and at the time of her death was over eighty years of age I should judge near 90. I was well acquainted with the children of said Abraham & Martha Pearce. The only surviving children are Daniel & Joseph Pease Polly Atwood Rebecca Rose Martha True, Avira Stevens & Jane Royal. The said Abraham Pearce and Martha always lived together as hus- band and wife. I lived near them in New Gloucester until I was twenty three years of age. Hannah Jordan the oldest child of said Martha would be about 70 years of age if now living
N L Ingersoll
Cumberland ss. Nov 18 1845 Signed & sworn to before me J Bradford J.P.

Danville Nov 25 th
Paris 5-
Freeman Readford Esq. Portland

I Jonathan Haskell of New Gloucester in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine agree eighty years the first day of January next. and do hereby testify before and say that I moved with my Father from Lake Umbagog Massachusetts. in to the Town of New- Gloucester Seventy two years ago, and that Abraham Paine late of said New Gloucester moved from Lake Umbagog spouse in to New Gloucester spouse said soon after. I think within two or three years. and have several children when he came here. I have always been well acquainted with the said Paine and his wife (who was Martha Parsons before marriage) ever since he first came into New Gloucester they had thirteen children in all and the eldest is living at this time would be more than seventy one years old the said Abraham and Martha always lived together as husband and wife from my first acquaintance with them until the death of the said Abraham and I have no doubt they were lawfully married more than Seventy two years ago.

the said Abraham since quite a number of years ago and his widow Martha Pease survived him and died a widow in February 1842, and the only surviving children of the said Abraham and Martha are Joseph Pease, and Daniel Pease, Rebecca Pease, Polly Atwood, Martha Pease, Sarah Pease, and Jane Pease, -
Jonathan Haskell
State of Maine Given testimony to November 24th 1842 That the above named Jonathan Haskell was known to me to be a man of truth and veracity personally appeared and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true before me Nathaniel L. Dingle Justice the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
July 21 1845.
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 Abraham Pearce is borne as a private upon a muster roll of Capt n Daniel Warner's Comp y . stationed in Gloucester, for the defence of the Sea coast, from July 19 to Nov r 1, 1775
3-2 | 3 months, 21 days, and upon another of the same Comp y . and service from Nov r 1 to Dec r 31, - 2 months
2, 5 5 days: the estimate of the whole term of service is not explained upon either roll - but is made up as stated, sworn to, examined and upon both
5-2 rolls ordered in Council, to be paid. The name of said Pearce is further borne upon a muster roll of Capt n William Ellery's comp y . of Artillery stationed at Gloucester, for the defence of the Sea coast from
2-16 July 16, 1776, - 2 months, 16 days, - and upon another of the same Comp y . and service from Sept r 30 to
3-0 Dec r 31 - 3 months, - on both these rolls as a
Rec N. B. 5 no. 100000000 The name is not found upon any roll p 9-

of the Tyrannicide in this office, but a person the name of Ager is found upon one of them. The preceding is all the evidence of service in the case, shown by any of the records.
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John C. Linsley,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application of Joseph Pearce for the proof of his father's service in the war of the Revolution
To the Secretary of State Massachusetts
The undersigned Joseph Pearce of Gray in the county of Cumberland one of the children of Abraham Pearce late of New Gloucester, requests the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass. to furnish from the rolls & other documents relating to military service in the war of the Revolution the evidence of the service of said Abraham Pearce , who was in the service during the war of the Revolution.
And this applicant believes that his father was in the Trenchard a naval vessel in Government service for about nine months & he believes that he served in the land forces of the State of Mass. He is unable to state more particularly the service of his father as he has has been dead many years - My mother Mortimer Pearce survived my father and died on the 7 th day of Febry 1848 - This application is made for the purpose of establishing the claim of the children of said Abraham Pearce to the benefit of the act of 1838 -
And this applicant further states that his father was a resident of the town of Gloucester Mass

in the State of Mass and this applicant believes he enlisted from said Town when he en- tered the service. This applicant believes that Alger was in the Tyrannicide with his father. And for the purpose of this application I hereby appoint J. Bradford of Portland my attorney in the premises
Joseph Pearce Cumberland Ys. April 17 1845 Sworn before me
Jas. M. of the Peace William L. Ingersoll
of the Tyrannicide Alger is found the evidence of records.
And I further of said facts, the Office, in the for- search was made application, and and circumstances
5

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 4 th July 1836, Martha Pease, dec d , late of Salem, widow of Abraham Pease, who was a Private in Captain's Co. in the revolution, was entitled to a Pension at the rate of $42:60 per annum; and having died on the 10 th Feb. 1842, the amount due from the 4 th March, 1831, to the time of her death, is payable to Joseph Pease, Daniel Pease, Rebecca Rowe, Polly Atwood, Martha True, Arria Verias, and Jane Royal, children of said Martha Pease, deceased,
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 9 th — day of April — one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. } §
Commissioner of Pensions.

Portland 21st Jan'y 1846
Sir
I herewith enclose the papers of the heirs of Abraham & Martha Pease who claim a pension as their mother under the act of 4th July 1836.
I am very Respectfully Your Ob't Serv't: F. Bradford
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 26305
Martha Pearce
Daughter of
Abraham Pearce
Rev Rev War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 125
[Arrangement of 1870.]

N 6680
Martha Pearce dec d Maw of Abraham Mr act 4 July 1836
Allm o .
5 Mo 26 ds fm $19.54 5 " 16 " Mch 23.06 $42.60
from 4 March 1831 to 10 July 10, 1842, the day of her death Payable to Joseph Pearce, Daniel Pearce, Rebecca Rowe, Polly At- kins, Martha True, Anna Kins and Jane Royal only Surviving Children of Martha Pearce dec d -
Freeman Bradford Portland Mr