Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 2072-100, Jonathan Boyce, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Boyce, Jonathan
B. L. Wt. 2072-100
CONTENTS

Heirs of Jonathan Boyce dec.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
State of Massachusetts } ss. Norfolk County. }
I, Polly Wood a Devisee and heir at law to Jonathan Boyce deceased, do upon oath testify and declare, that to the best of my knowledge and belief, Jonathan Boyce aforesaid, about, or in the year 1777 entered, or enlisted into the service of the United States, for the term of "During the War:" and that he continued in the service aforesaid, until the close of the same, when he received an honorable discharge at the termination thereof, from the 2 d Regiment of the Massachusetts commanded by Colonel Ebenezer Sproat , and when he was a Private . Further testify and declare that my Great Uncle Jonathan Boyce aforesaid departed this life at my mother's residence in Mendon Worcester County, Mass s about forty one years ago.
I further declare, that I have never received a warrant for the Bounty Land promised to Jonathan Boyce aforesaid, on the part of the United States, nor do I believe he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever:
Therefore, KNOW All Men By these Presents, that I Polly Wood aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Reuben Ballou of Freehold in the State of New York my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a Warrant for the quantity of Bounty Land due me and the other heir at law of Devisees of Jonathan Boyce aforesaid. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 27 th day of August in the year 1834.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, in presence of
R. Nutting
Polly Wood
Norfolk County, ss.
Be it known that on this twenty  twenty fourth day of August in the year 1834 Before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Polly Wood subscriber to the above declaration, who made solemn oath to the truth of the same: and likewise acknowledged the power of attorney thereunto subjoined, to be her free act and deed; dated at Mendon in said County the day and year above mentioned.
Seth Nutting Justice of the Peace.
State of Massachusetts } ss. Norfolk County. }
I, James M c Lean Clerk of the Court of Norfolk County, do hereby certify, that Seth Nutting Esq r before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn, and the subjoined power of attorney purports to have been acknowledged, is and was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the County of Norfolk duly commissioned sworn and qualified by law to take affidavits, &c. and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice, and verily believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court and subscribed my name at Norfolk this 28 th day of August in the year 1834.
James M c Lean

certified copy of the Will and codicil of Jonathan Boyce and also Authentic certificate

Jonathan Boyce N o 2072

In the Name of Amen.
I Jonathan Boyce of Mendon in the County of Worcester Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman being weak of body but of a sound and disposing mind and memory blessed be God therefor, but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed unto man once to die do ordain make and publish this to be my last Will and Testament principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor herein after named - And as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life and world; I give bequeath and dispose in the following manner (viz)
Inprimis. It is my Will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by my Executor herein after named in convenient time after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Brother Lucius Boyce one pound ten shillings to be paid by my Executor herein after named within one year after my decease.
Item. I give to my loving Sister Sarah Hall twenty shillings to be paid paid by my Executor herein after named within one year after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to my loving Sister Jehoshaba Capron Wife of Charles Capron twenty shillings to be paid by my Executor herein after named within one year after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to my loving Sister Phebe Cook Wife of Jeremiah Cook twenty shillings to be paid by my Executor herein after named within one year after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to John Wood and William Hall Children of my Sister Sarah Hall all my wearing apparel to be equally divided between them.
Item: I give and bequeath to Polly Wood Daughter of Peleg

Wood nine pounds to be paid when she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or marriage.
Item: I give and bequeath to the children of my Brother Benjamin Boyce deceased twenty shillings to be paid by my Executor hereinafter named in one year after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to the children of my Sister Lydia Goings deceased twenty shillings to be equally divided between them in one year after my decease. Now my will is that my Executor sell and dispose of so much of my real estate where it will be the least disadvantage to the remainder as will enable him to pay and discharge all my debts and legacies aforesaid.
Item: I give and bequeath to Lovie Wood Wife of Peleg Wood the sole use and improvement of all my Real Estate not heretofore disposed of (or ordered to be sold) during her natural life to be by her kept and improved: Also I give her all my indoor moveables of what name or nature soever not heretofore given away to her her heirs and assigns.
Item: I give and bequeath all my real estate above said after the decease of the said Lovie Wood to Liberty Wood and Jonathan Boyce Wood Sons of the said Peleg and Lovie Wood to them their heirs and assigns to be equally divided between them: — And if any person or persons should dispossess in any way or manner the said Lovie Wood out of the peaceable possession of the said premises without her voluntary consent, then and in that case my Executor is herein directed to take possession of the premises and improve them for the use and benefit of the said Liberty and Jonathan Boyce Wood and for them only.
Item: I give and bequeath to Peleg Wood all my out door moveables of what name or nature soever.
And I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty and well beloved friend Nahor Staples to be my Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and do hereby revoke & disannul

all former Wills Legacies and bequeaths of what name or nature soever heretofore made willed or bequeathed hereby ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety four. Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Jonathan Boyce this and none other to be his last Will and Testament in presence of
Benjamin Read Levi Young Jesse Tourtellot
Witnesses.
Jonathan Boyce (Seal.)
Whereas I the subscriber did on the twelfth day of April last past make and subscribe my last Will and Testament in which amongst other things give and bequeath unto Jonathan Boyce Wood one equal half of my real estate after the decease of his Mother Lucia Wood, and as the said Jonathan Boyce Wood lies at the point of death, and as I am in a low state of health myself think proper to make this addition to my said Last Will and Testament in manner following (182) That if the said Jonathan Boyce Wood should die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years then and in that case my Will is that Polly Wood Daughter of Peleg and Lucia Wood shall have and hold in the same manner and in the same way the said Jonathan would have done if he shall live respecting the said Polly is not to have the other portion assigned her in the said Will but to have only his share for her portion.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of May in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety four. Signed in presence of
Benjamin Read Jesse Tourtellot Levi Young.
Jonathan Boyce (Seal.)

Worcester ss
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I certify that the foregoing copy of the Will and the copy of the Codicil annexed, are true copies of the last Will and testament and Codicil of Jonathan Boyce late of Mendon in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth aforesaid. The said Will bears date April 12 th 1794. and the said Codicil annexed, is dated May 28 th 1794 and the said testator Jonathan Boyce being dead, the said Will and Codicil, were proved and approved as the last Will and testament of the said testator, at a Court of Probate at said Worcester on the 3 rd day of September 1794. and duly recorded. That Joseph Dorr now deceased was then Judge of the Probate of Wills &c for the said County of Worcester as appears of record.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand, and affix the Seal of the said Court this 12 th day of September A.D. 1834 —
Joseph S. Wheeler Reg d of said Court of Probate —
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss
I Sherman Leland, Judge of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Norfolk, hereby certify, that satisfactory evidence has been adduced to me to prove, that Jonathan Boyce Wood, mentioned in the foregoing Will & Codicil, died when he was quite young, & long before he was twenty one years of age — that Liberty Wood, also mentioned in the foregoing Will, died about sixteen years ago — that he left William H Wood & Mary Anne Wood, his only children & heirs at law: that the said William H Wood & Mary Anne Wood are still living — and also that Polly Wood, mentioned in the foregoing Will & Codicil, is still living.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this sixteenth day of September A.D. 1834
S Leland

By His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America.
THESE are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof John Haney in the Second Massachusetts Regiment, having faith- fully served the United States eight years and one month — and being inlisted for the War only, hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army.
GIVEN at HEAD-QUARTERS the tenth day of June 1783. —
George Washington
By I
REG
Adjutant.
for line William H. —
h Yc.

HEAD-QUARTERS, Juncton 1783.
THE within CERTIFICATE shall not Bear as a Discharge until the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until tion thereof shall be made, He is to be considered as Furlough.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Jonathan Boyce Mass. B.L.Wt 2072-100

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Boyce, Joseph GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 8988 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED November 27, 1794 to Alexander Poever, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.