Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,641, for Abraham Pray, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass
Pray, Abraham
S 17641
carded
CONTENTS

Maine 29.895
Abraham Pray
Hollbrook in the State of Maine who was a Serjeant in the Co. commanded by Captain Darling of the Regt commanded by Col Prentiss in the Massachussetts line for 20 months & continental
to be dropped
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 100 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of April 1835 and sent R. C. Vose Augusta Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 35 4 00 Pension allowance ending 6 Sep 50 4 50
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. R. C. Vose
Recorded by R. C. Vose Clerk, Book H Vol. 1 Page 43
Letter to C. H. Himmer May 15/34

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this 17th day of August A. D. 1833 personally appeared Abraham Pray before the William Woodworth  Hon. Nathan Weston, Junt. a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court  Peace for said County of said State, Abraham Pray a resident of Hallowell in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged Eighty 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832 That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 with Captain Sam. Darby and served in Col. Scamman's regiment of the Massachusetts line or troops under the following named officers: viz Darby Capt. and Scamman Col. That he enlisted in that company & regiment as orderly sergeant the 1st of May 1775 , for the period of eight months ; was in the Battle of Bunker Hill & after serving out the full term of his enlistment at Cambridge, Massachusetts , immediately on the first of January 1776 , enlisted in the same Capt. Darby's company in Col. Prescott's regt. of the same troops for one year, as orderly sergeant , which latter period he also fully served out & was then honorably discharged at Rhode Island in January 1777 . His discharge was in writing & is now lost. That he was born in Berwick, Maine in 1757 , where he presumes his age is recorded, & where he lived when he entered the service. That he has lived in Hallowell upwards of thirty years . That he had warrants as a sergeant for both his services which are now lost.
That he was placed on the Maine roll under the Act of Congress of March 18, 1818, and that his pension certificate is numbered 18.057 , and dropped therefrom on account of his property. That at that time he resided in Hallowell in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, and now resides in the same town
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State, except as aforesaid.
Abraham Pray
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before me, Wm. Woodworth Justice Peace
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. The applicant being well known to him as a man of veracity & entitled to full credit.
Wm. Woodworth

State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Hon. Nathan Weston  William Weston , Jun'r, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said  Peace for said County in State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge  Justice , in the matter of the application of Abraham Pray for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said  Supreme Judicial Court, this 17 th day of August
A. D. 1833
J. A. Chandler
I Hanson Clark of Rome, Kennebec County, Maine, aged seventy nine years upwards, a pensioner on the Maine Roll under the Act of Congress of March 18 th 1818, upon oath testify and say, that I formerly lived in Berwick where I was born I lived during the Revolutionary war. That I well knew the within named Abraham Pray when he was a boy & have known him ever since. That during the eight months service at Cambridge in 1775 I was there & saw said Pray. I knew him to be a Sergeant in Capt. Darby's company as he has within stated. I was myself a part of the time in service there as a private & substitute for another person in the same service. The 1 st of January 1776 I enlisted at Cambridge as a private for one year in Capt. Moses Whiting's company in Col. Green's regt. & knew that the said Pray enlisted as a Sergeant in Capt. Darby's company for one year as he has within stated. I further state that being in the same service & being intimately acquainted with the said Pray, I frequently saw him serving as orderly Sergeant in Capt. Darby's company in Col. Prescott's regt. I know that he served as such during the whole of the year 1776 & until he was discharged. He is a man of undoubted veracity & entitled to credit.
Hanson his Clark mark
State of Maine, Kennebec, p: Sworn & subscribed this 17 th day of August 1833, the deponent being a credible and disinterested witness.
Before me, Wm. Ward Justice Peace. Andrews, Me.  R. B. Rose
Abraham Pray Sergeant 3 rd Maine Regt. Darby's Co. 8 months Summons regt. Darby's Co. 12 months Resub's regt. 20 months 20 months & 5 days as a Sergt. First Hanson Clark credible Witness R. B. Rose

Original Claim No 4
Abraham Pray private Col. Prescott's Mass Regt Dec 1775 to Jan'y 1. 1777.
One Year due July 29 th 1820
Oath & schedule
Admitted
Proof Hanson Clark } Paul Yeaton }
Schedule to be made where the applicant resides if he resides in Kennebec county let it be so stated in the schedule, which is informal.
R.C. Vose.
Augusta Maine.

State of Maine
County of Kennebec ss.
On this twenty ninth day of July 1820, personally appeared, before Nathan Weston Junior, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court for the said State, being a court of Record, for the state aforesaid, Abrahame Pray, aged sixty six years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath declare and make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th. of March 1818. and first of May 1820, that he the said Abrahame Pray, enlisted for the term of one year in December 1775, in the state of Massachusetts, in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Darby, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Prescott in the line of the State of Massachusetts, on the continental establishment, that he continued in said corps until January first 1777, when he was discharged from the service in Ticonderoga, in the state of New York having previously served in the eight months service, and that he has other no evidence in his power of said services. And in pursuance of the Act of the 1st of May 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th 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 an 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 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 other income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. I have no real estate, and have a few articles of furniture (besides bedding) of the value of fifteen dollars. I have debts due to me that may be collected to the amount of five dollars, and I owe as much as two hundred dollars. My occupation has been that of a Truckman, but from age and being much subject to the rheumatism, and lethargy, I am unable to labor, My family consists of myself. My wife Catharine aged fifty three years troubled with the Phthisic, and unable to labor. My daughter Sally aged twenty,

twenty nine, of very feeble health, and have been at much expense for Doctors bills on her account, and my daughter, (Mary) aged twenty four years subject to the scrofula humor, and enjoys a poor state of health.
Abram. Pray
I Hanson Clarke, aged sixty four years, a pensioner under the law of Congress of March 18, 1818 upon oath testify and declare, that being myself a soldier at the time, I knew that Abraham Pray within named, served during the year 1776, in capt Derby's Company and Col. Prescotts Massachusetts regiment as he has within stated.
Witness N. Weston Esq.
Hanson his Clarke mark
Subscribed and sworn to, August 1. 1820 (The said deponent being a credible and disinterested witness) Before me Nathan Weston Esq. Dist. S. D. Court.
I Paul Yeaton aged fifty six years, a pensioner under the law of Congress of March 18, 1818, upon oath testify and declare, that living in the neighbourhood with Abraham Pray within named at the time, I knew that he served as a continental soldier in the years service, in the war of the revolution as he has within stated.
Paul Yeaton
Subscribed & sworn to Aug. 1st. 1820 (The said deponent being a credible and disinterested witness) before me
Nathan Weston Esq. Dist. S. D. Court State of Maine
I John Davis, clerk of all the Judicial courts, held within and for the County of Kennebec, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said court, and that the original was exhibited in open 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 twenty dollars.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
John Davis
Clerk of the court for the County of Kennebec.

I Abraham Pray, in the sixty fourth year of my age of Hallowell in the County of Kennebec Maine do upon oath testify and declare, that I have been a resident in the said Town of Hallowell for the last eighteen years - and that I expect Priscott's to reside there in future. I served one year in Col. Gates Massachusetts Regt during the year 1776 - and am wholly destitute of property except the few articles of furniture mentioned in my schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed -
Ebenezer Pray
Kennebec ss. Nov. 24. 1820. Personally appeared Abraham Pray, who has to my knowledge been a resident of the Town of Hallowell for many years, and he made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him. Subscribed - Before me, Nathan Weston Jun. Sub. S. J. C.

18.057. Maine
Abraham Gray of Hallowell in the state of Maine who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Prescott of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year & continental
Inscribed on the roll 20 months at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 th of July 1820
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th of Jany 1821 and sent to R. C. Vose Esq r August 1820
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1820. 1m: \frac{23}{31} \frac{4}{30} $14.99 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 March 1821 48 The arrear from Oct 1820 $62.99
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. } and first of May 1820

17641 INVALID
New Nat
1917, Oct. 25, To Fr. Mr. Gen. U.S.A. For monument.
File No. 17641
Abraham Pray
Serg. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 358
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Augusta, Me, March 25 th . 1835,
Sir,
With this I send you the case of Abraham Pray, whose declaration for the same service contained in this declaration, is now on file in your office, awaiting the outth of the pensioner now made in open Court. Mr. Pray is eighty two years of age, very poor & extremely infirm, has no wife, & for all these reasons is very desirous that his certificate may be immediately issued.
I also send you the additional or explanatory declaration of Andrew Mace, whose pension certificate, & papers under Act of June 7, 1832, are now on file in your office.
Your early attention to these cases, is earnestly requested.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obt. Servt.
Robert C. Dole
Col. J. L. Edwards, Comm d . of Pensions, Washington.

Abraham Pray.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, October 20 th . 1834.
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 Pray, of Berwick, is borne in "a Muster Roll of the company under the command of capt. Samuel Darby in col. James Scammon's regiment to the first of August 1775." as having enlisted as a Sergeant May 4 th & was paid for three months & five days service.
Edward D. Bangs Secy
66-76  81

Abraham Pray 18,057.
Payable on the 4th March and 4th September of each year, by the President of the Cumberland Bank in Portland, Maine No pension is payable until the arrival of one or the other of the above dates, after the issue of a Certificate.
Registered, by S. Wright 13 th Clerk, in book B, volume page 81.

War Department.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Laws of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, and first of May 1820.
Abraham Pray late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Maine Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this thirtieth day of January one thousand eight hundred and twenty one
J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War.

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this 20 th day of March A. D. 1835 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Abraham Pray a resident of Hallowell in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged Eighty two upwards 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 with Captain Samuel Darby and served in Col. Scammon's regiment of the Massachusetts line or troops under the following named officers: viz. Darby Capt. and Scammon Col. That he enlisted in April 1775 for eight months in that company & regiment, as a Sergeant , & served out that period at Cambridge, Mass. where he was verbal discharged in Decem r of the same year or 1 st of January 1776 . That the first of January 1776 , he enlisted as a Sergeant in Capt. Darby's company in Col. Prescott's regiment of the same troops, for one year ; that he served at Long Island , & after serving out the full term of his enlistment was discharged at New York the first of January 1777 . Having served the whole period as a Sergeant .
That he was placed on the Maine roll under the Act of Congress of March 18, 1818, and that his pension certificate is numbered 18057 . and dropped therefrom on account of his
property . That at that time he resided in Hallowell in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, and now resides in the same town .
That his declaration of the above service, is now on file in the pension office; his claim being suspended as he understands for the purpose of explanation as to why it was not sooner forwarded to the Department. He would therefore state that he was frequently informed that unless Capt. Darby's roll of service for 1775 could be found he could not have his claim allowed & that it was delayed for the purpose of procuring that roll, said to be mislaid in the Secy's office in Massachusetts , which is now found. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State, except as aforesaid.
Abraham Pray
20 March
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. B for
Nathan Weston
C. J. S. P. C.
And the said Chief Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
Nathan Weston
C. J. S. P. C.

State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r , Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge , Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Pray for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this 20 th day of March
A. D. 1835.
J A Chandler Clerk

Abraham Pray.
The declaration of this applicant, as made before a Magistrate, together with his pension certificate under act of 1818, are now on file in pension office, awaiting this declaration made in open Court,
Rob. Moe, Augusta, Me.