Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,726, Joseph Blair, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Blair, Joseph Mary or Mercy
N. 20,726
CONTENTS

8328 4 Massachusetts Roll.
Joseph Blair,
of Brookfield in the state of Massa: who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Greadon of the Massa: line, for the term of three years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 13. of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27. of Mar. 1819, and sent to John Davis, Esq. Worcester, Massae.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819... 85.83
Semi-ann. all'ce ending Sept. 4. 1819.. 48. "
Am d 10 m s : 18/30-4/31
$133.83
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continue
Application sent up to the Massachusetts State Legislature

Pension 25
2089 Vermont at  at  the  the  rate of  rate of
Mary Blair widow of Joseph Blair who was a Private in the Mass line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of Sept. 1843 and sent to J. Swift Manchester Vt
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 25.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER, ss.
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts
Elisha
holden within and for said County of Worcester , certify, that Samuel. Miller & Hammond Esquire before whom the annexed Affidavits have been made, are Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly qualified for the purpose, acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that their names subscribed thereto and their own proper signatures.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County seal, this twenty ninth day of January .
A. D. 1819.
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk
Application of Joseph Blair

5 John Wood, of Duckbraintree in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was a soldier in the Army of the United States, in the sixth Massachusetts Regiment during the Revolutionary War and I do on oath testify and declare, that I was acquainted with Joseph Blair now resident in Brookfield in the County aforesaid, that he was a soldier in the third Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col. Grooton, and I frequently saw him & knew him to be a soldier in the United States service, on the continental establishment for more than two years. I have always been acquainted with said Blair since; I left the Army about the same time that he did - and I have no doubt but he received an honorable discharge. John Wood
Duckbraintree 2 December 20-1810
Worcester ss Dec 30 th 1810 Personally appeared the above named John Wood and made oath that to the above declaration
Before me Samuel Mitchell Just Peace
I hereby certify that the above named John Wood is well known to me, and that he is a man of truth and veracity
Samuel Mitchell Jr.

State of Massachusetts — Joseph Blair of Brook- field in the County of Worcester and State a- foresaid a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Brookfield in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, in the year A D 1779 I think from two to three months before the British went to Danbury in Connecticut — being then there on my way to New York — I entered and was engaged in the Continental service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the twentieth day of June in the year A D 1783 —
as a common soldier, against the common enemy, without any interrup- tion or absence: that I belonged to the Company commanded by Capt. Joseph Williams — in the Third Regiment Commanded by Col. Graton — and Third Brigade
and that I left the service on the said twentieth day of June A D 1783 — and that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of sixty years and upwards — Having a wife & one child dependent on me for their support.
And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Joseph Blair
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this 13 th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me, Isaac Parker
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mass s
the abovenamed Joseph Blair and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination du- ly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court the day & year above Isaac Parker 1818

Joseph Blair
Brookfield
Not on roll,
Adm d
In d Davis Worcester

Barzilla Howard do testify & declare that I was in the revolutionary Army as stated in my declaration - that I personally knew Joseph Blair, who was in the Army at the same time & I have often mounted guard with him, and have no doubt of the truth of the whole of his declaration.
13 April 1840
Barzilla Howard
Sworn to before me
Isaac Parker C J H
Worthington January 1 st 1849.
This certifies that I am acquainted with the above named Barzilla Howard & his reputation for veracity is good. He now being a prisoner under the late act of Congress.
Elisha Hammond Just War

Joseph Blair A Braintree
0238
Sept 1819
Con

Schedule of the property of Joseph Blair, of New Braintree, in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1. 1820. 1 old Chest, 6 tea cups, & Saucers, 1 pint mug, 3 bowls, 3 small tin pans, 6 Iron spoons, 6 old chairs, Shovel & tongs, 1 pot, 1 kettle, 1 Bake pan, 1 tea kettle, 1 Spider 6 knives & forks, 2 Glass Bottles, 1 old pine table, 2 Wheels, 1 old water-pail, 1 axe, 1 hoe, 1 old scythe, 1 hog, 1 Iron Shovel. - $21.25.
My occupation is that of a farmer; I am unable to perform much labour in consequence of a lame shoulder which was broken about three years since, and I have but little use of it. I have a wife whose age is fifty three years, and she enjoys usual health; I have one son aged 11 years, who is lame in con- sequence of a broken leg. I have two Grand children living with me, who are supported by the town. One of my Grand- children's age is 4 and the other 3 years.
Joseph Blair.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this twenty first day of June 1820, personally appeared in open Court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Worcester, established as such by the laws of said Commonwealth, Joseph Blair aged sixty two years, resident in New Braintree in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: Enlisted in January 1780, in the 3 d Regt. commanded by Col o Freighton, in the Company commanded by Capt. Joseph Williams, and I served 3 years 5 months and 3 days, to the close of the War, and then rec d at discharge. The date of my original application is the thirteenth day of April 1818. My Pension Certificate is numbered 8,238
and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day 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 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 day of 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 income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Joseph Blair.
Sworn to and declared, on the twenty first day of June, 1820. before the said Court.
Attest, Abijah Bigelow, Clk.
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said 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 one dollars and twenty five cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty first day of June 1820.
Abijah Bigelow Clerk of the Court for the County of Worcester.

407 Harvey of Blair
Mass.
act 7 July 3 8
Married in 1784 Died in 1830
comd 2 years pri 80 $
No deduction
C. G. Grentep Worcester Mass.
1830

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify, that Ira Barton is the Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature to the papers hereto annexed are his own genuine signatures.
I further certify, that Samuel Misler is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature to one of the papers hereto annexed is his own genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court this twenty eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
Chas. G. Prentiss, Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex ss.
On this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me Nathaniel Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Middlesex, Mary Blair a resident of Boston in said County aged sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn on oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions 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 Joseph Blair who was a soldier in the Army of the United States and a pensioner of the United States under the Act of 1838. At the time her said husband went into the service he belonged to the town of New Britain in said County, and at the same time she belonged to the town of Middlebury and now resides in said County. The same month he came out of the service, she went up to live with a sister in the town of Middlebury and she there became acquainted with her husband. He always said he was in the service six years & six months and she believes that in the war he enlisted during the war. But the census of her own knowledge state much about her service. She refers to the rolls in the war department, and to the papers in her husband's case.

She further declares that she was married the said Joseph Blair at the New-Mountain in said County of the by the Rev. Daniel Porter, on the twenty eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five. That her husband the aforesaid Joseph Blair died at said New-Berlin on the twenty fifth day of September in the year eighteen hundred and fifty five and his final settlement is hereby accounted. That she was not mar- ried to him previous to his leaving the town but the marriage took place prior to the first day of January in the year eighteen hundred and fifty five, to wit at the time above stated.
Mary J. Blair the day before me this matter
Before me  W. Batten Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of the
by their sign the aforesaid Joseph Blair

I Amasa Bigelow of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State Massachusetts, Certify that I find upon the records of the Town of New Braintree aforesaid, the record of the Marriage Joseph Blair and Mary Smart both of New Braintree, Solemnized by Rev. Daniel Foster, on the twenty eighth day of October sixteen hundred and eightyfour. of which record this is a true copy with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows Oct th 28. 1784
I Amasa Bigelow above named do hereby certify that I hold the office of Clerk in the County, Town, & State aforesaid; and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town, with the exception above named as certified by me
Amasa Bigelow Clerk of the Town of New Braintree aforesaid
Worcester ss. August 27-1838 - Personally appeared the above named Amasa Bigelow and made oath that the above certificate by him signed is true
Before me Samuel Hixson Just. Peace
and to the before in his hands copy

I Samuel Miller of New Braintree in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that I formerly knew Joseph Hlin of New Braintree who was reputed to be a soldier of the revolution, and he was a prisoner of the United States. I used to arrest him in carrying his pension until his death which I understand hap- pened about seven or eight years ago. His widow Mary Hlin now resides in the adjoining town of Hanover and has not been married since his death to my knowledge.
Samuel Miller
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Sworn to Apr. 2 d 1838 The foregoing Samuel Miller who is known to me as a man of truth and good credit doth that the above deposition is true - Myself
John Barker Judge of Probate for said County
ment, given to the person in her presence and

Edward Winslow of Haver in the County of Cumberland, do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the widow Mary Blair wife of Haver, whose hus- band Joseph Blair I understand died about eight years ago. I know the fact that she has never been married since his death. Edw Winslow
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Cumberland ss On this day personally appeared Mary Blair known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that she executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed.
Given under my hand and seal this 27th day of August 1838
Edward Winslow

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States of the 18th of March, 1818
Joseph Blair, late a Private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the thirteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twenty seventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War.
Received of the paymaster general the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars for the balance of account due to the said Joseph Blair in his said capacity.

Let to Laban Marcy May 3. 1839. Massachusetts - 608
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6. April 1838 from 4 March to 4 Sep 1839. agt Notified 7 July 1840
Mary Blair widow of Joseph Blair, dec. who was a pensioner under the Act of 18. Mar 18 and who died on the 25. Sep 1830 of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts who was a P in - in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt. commanded by General [blank] in the Mass. Militia line for 2 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1838
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of Oct 6 th 28, and said to be a true and correct copy of the original now on file, etc.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep $ 200.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 40.00
$ 240.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 - Page 75

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 2 d , 1840.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Guardian of Nancy Blair, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Eighty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th July 1838, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, 1839, to the 4 th Sept. 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Parr Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

From Miss Mary Ann Mercy Blair to Mrs. John H. Lewis and Commissary of Pensions Washington City

Greenwich Ms 81 - April 28th 1839 Hon J L Edmonds Commissioner on Pensions Dear Sir
Some time early last Saturday I sent to your Department an application for a Pension of Lydia Liberton of this Town with the accompanying the Pension Certificate of her late husband deceased. Since which I have heard nothing from it please advise me as to it —
It was Mercy Blair of Barn in this State, a widow States to me. She made application for a Pension under the act in favour of widows of 1838. and that a Pension Certificate was here sent to her. but the Selectmen of the Town of New Brunswicks in the same County & where she has a Settlement. if she shall ever come to want have obtained the Pension Certificate and will not let her have it but say they intend to keep it against she may come to want. Now Sir I am requested to enquire if any directions from you can be sent so as to enable the widows to receive her money or if she can give a discharge of the former & receive another Certificate. or if there is any way for her to get her Pension money; as it would do her much good in her old age and as it is the intent of the Law Yours very Respectfully John Macey

M rs Mary Blair
place on Burlington Vermont Roll
$80 per an
Swift Manchester VT
273

State of Vermont } Bennington County }
On this 31 st day of March 1843, personally appeared before the subscriber, a well known within the County of Bennington aforesaid, Mary Blair, formerly of Bennington, in the County of War- wick, in the State of Massachusetts, now a resident of Landgate in the County of Bennington aforesaid, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following De- claration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 3 d March 1831, granting Pensions to Widows of Pensioners who served during the revolutionary war. That she is the Widow of Joseph Blair, lately deceased, who was a Private in the Army of the United States, during that war, & who enjoyed a Pension therefor; until the time of his death. For certain well known reasons, she also, since his decease, received a Pension of fifty Dollars per month, for a period of one year, under the Act of July 7, 1838. She further declares that she is still a Widow. Her Mary Blair Widow of Joseph Blair
Sworn to before me this day, by me a Notary Public in and for the State of Vermont. Horace Hurd Justice of the peace
And I do hereby further certify that the above Declaration was made into the imme- diate vicinity where I live, & within half a mile of my residence, & has under- stood from the State of Massachusetts, about five or six months previous to her here- date, & continued to reside there until that time, & that she was ever known & called by the surname of Mary Blair.
Attest Horace Hurd Justice of the peace
State of Vermont } Bennington County }
I Saml. H. Blackmer Clerk of the County Court in said County do hereby certify that Horace Hurd is a Justice of the peace in said County duly commissioned & qualified that his Commission bears date from the 1 st day of Dec r 1842. & will expire on the 30 th day of Nov r 1843. That his signature above written is genuine
In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand & the seal of the said Court at Bennington this 6 th day of April A.D. 1843, & of the independence of the U.S. the 67 th
Saml. H. Blackmer Clerk

Key WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20726
Mary Blair
Widow of
Joseph Blair
prior Rev War
Act: March 3 rd 1/43
Index:—Vol. A , Page 69
[Arrangement of 1870.]

H. Pinner
Secret

I herewith send the Dictations of Joseph Blair Lieut. Harrington. Benjamin Studley & David Cham- bers with the additional proof required —
Geo. Davis
Honorable
Mr. C. Calhoun
Secy of War

Jos. Blair's
Application
for Pension.
Pension

Greenwich 3 d Sept r 1818
This may certify that Joseph Blair of Brookfield county Worcester, State Mass s . states to me that he enlisted for during the war in the spring of 1779, into the 3 d Mass s Regiment, and was placed in my company and was honorably discharged at the close of the war at Newburgh Huts in the year 1783.
Between thirty & forty years have passed since that event and unfortunate like many others, have lost my company Books, Rolls &c it is impossible for me, at this late hour of the day, to indentify the s d Blair personally, I remember however a man of that name in my c o and from a variety of circumstances stated by him, relative to the names of the Officers of the Reg t our Marches & encampments, and vari- -ous incidents that occurred that are fresh to my recol- -lection. That I have not the least doubt, nor hesitation in my mind in believing his statement a true one. That he was honorably discharged at the time stated, & as honorably entitled to the pension recently granted by Congress. to the poor, able, worn out revolutionary Soldiers. ---
Joseph Williams
Note it: he commanded by Lieut o John Greaton