Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,620, John Blake, Navy (Mass.)

SERVICE
Navy (Mass.)
Blake, John Mercy
NUMBER
W. 23,620
CONTENTS

5.080
Maui
Mercy Blake need widow of Salmon Blake who died on the 10 Sept 1839 of  in the State of Maui who was a Seaman in the  commanded by Captain  of the  commanded by  in the Revolution time for 12 Months 18 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland . at the rate of 90 Dollars 12 Cents per annum, to commence on the 10 th day of March 18 Sept 1839 & Enog 16 th September 1846.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Nov r 1857, and sent to Dickens & Coombes
Arrears to the 4th of Present Semi-annual allowance ending
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by Weightman Clerk, Book D. Vol. 2. Page 332

Revolutionary claim. —
Declaration for the benefit of the act of congress, passed July 4 th , A.D. 1836. —
On this 29 th day of Octo in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, personally appeared before the Hon. Asahel Ware Judge of the United States for the District of Maine, William Blake of Lisbon in the County of Lincoln, in the said District of Maine, aged 64 years who first being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Dec- laration for himself and in behalf of John Blake, Hebilon Blake, Mary Hill, Sally Blodgett, all children of Mercy Blake and John Blake, and the only surviving children of John Blake and Mercy Blake aforesaid deceased, in order to obtain the ben- efit of the act of congress passed July 4 th A.D. 1836. That said John Blake the husband of Mercy Blake aforesaid was a seaman on board of the Frigate Boston under Capt Samuel Tucker in 1779, 4 mos 27 days, — Also as a seaman under Capt. Samuel Nicholson on board the Frigate Deane, in 1781, 6 mos 11 days, — And on board the Frigate Hague (formerly Deane) as a seaman 1782, 11 months 10 days, — The aforesaid service was rendered on board the U.S. Vessels, — by my said father John Blake husband of Mercy Blake my said mother, whose said over.

name was Mercy Dean, That (they my parents) were married by S. Gilman of North Yarmouth July 25 th 1780, as will appear from the town clerks certificate of said N. Yarmouth, herunto annexed, — Also That my said father well knew that he was entitled to a pension, but on account of his being a wealthy man he could live without it & further that I have heard him reply to his folks That he did not believe that it was right to receive pensions, for it was the price of blood, I will further state that my said father was a very zealous christian man, & would not let any one prosecute his claim for a pension, Also, the sole reason why a trial was not made while my said mother was living for her pension, was, That immediately after my said fathers death she moved to the Easterly part of this state to live, with her daughter Sally Blythe in the town of Parkman where she died, & That knowing the uncertainty of the recovery of said pension on account of the proper proof of service being out of our reach, being probably all dead & if not we did not know where to find any who served with my said father, in the aforesaid named vessels in the Revolutionary war That our claim has been put off until this date, which time we are fully satisfied that we ought to be allowed our claim from the fact That documentary evidence at this late day should satisfy any department of the genuineness of the

of our said claim, That of late we have been well satisfied that our claim would be allowed with the proof herunto annexed, in aid of our claim for a pension which belonged to our said Mother Mercy Blake who died in Parkman on the sixteenth day of September 1846 which is further provable to all intents, according to the proof herunto annexed, also that our honored father John Blake aforesaid died in Lisbon on the tenth day of September eighteen hundred & thirty nine, - to my certain knowledge, - That for further proof of the particulars of identity of my father aforesaid in the said war & of his origin, service, & place of residence since, & at his death, & the reason of his not getting his pension when living, & also the proof of identity of my said mother my said father's widow, I hereby respectfully refer the Commission & that department for granting pensions, to the facts combined under oath as shown by the papers annexed in the case, I further state, that all of said facts relative to his early life before & since the said war relative to our said claim, I gathered from my said father, & mother, & from the papers annexed.
Wm Blake
Signed & sworn to before me this 29th of Oct 1850
Aspen Warr Dist. Judge of the U.S.D. for the Dist. of Maine

United States of America
Maine District ss: First Circuit
Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court,
J. Geo. F. Emery Clerk of the Circuit
Court of the United States within and for the District and Circuit aforesaid hereby certify that Asahel Ware, before whom the foregoing proceedings were had is Judge of the United States for the District of Maine, duly commissioned and qualified, and full faith and credit are due to his acts as such - that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine; and that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Judge in the matter of the application of William Blake for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Circuit Court this twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Geo. F. Emery } Clerk, C. C. U.S. for Maine District

Application of W m Blake, son of John Blake & Mercy Blake. for the evidence of his fathers Rev- olutionary Service as a Seaman,
To the Secretary of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, Boston, This Applicant States, that his father John Blake, was an orphan child, that he cannot remember of ever hearing any one relate where he was born, but was born in the state of Mass in vicinity of Boston in the year 1752, or 1753, that his father was of a roving disposition, & had no particular trade, but lived as a hired servant from place to place, & went to sea occasionally, until the year 1775, or the first of the war, which time he came to this vicinity where he became acquainted with his wife, in a place called Royalston, after which he returned to Massachusetts or Boston, & did enlist and serve on board the Vessel or Frigate Boston under Samuel Ducker about the year 1775, or 1776 about 7 or 8 months, after which he returned & came to Royalston and was married to Mercy Dean in July 1780, then after, went to Boston, & enlisted, and served on board the Deane, & served until she came in to Boston, and was there repaired, & after which, her name changed to the name Hague & he returned on board of the same vessel which was the Deane formally, then lastly was changed to Hague on which over

Vessel he served to the last of the war, but under what Officers I do not recollect, correctly perhaps, but think they were Richardson & Tucker.
This applicant states that his father lived until after the pension acts was passed by Congress & he stated that he was entitled to a pension, but in con- sequence of his believing that war was unjust, unrighteous, & it was not right to receive a pension, that he neglected it, & his widow died in the last part of this state, without receiving any pension, in which case the said applicant respectfully requests the said Secretary to furnish from the Books, Rolls, & other documents which relate to the war of the Revolution all the evidence as the service of said John Blake his father deceased, as set forth in this application, with the pension in lengths of the same, with the particular time or period enlisted for, & the grades thereat, in the said war of the Revolution, from any place in Massachusetts or board of said vessel. — At Waterville our Attorney — Win Blake
State of Maine Cumberland ss. August 27th 1850. Signed before me.
At Waterville Justice of the Peace & Deacon.
BLAKE, JOHN (NAVY) W 33620

To William Osgood of North Yarmouth on oath depose and say that I am Town Clerk of the said Town - legally chosen and sworn - and have in my custody all the records of this Town. In an ancient book of records of marriages, I find the following entry, 1780 July 23 d .
John Blake and Murray Lean both of Royalston were married by J. Gilman
Recorded by David Mitchell Town Clerk. The dates of the above said entry written in full will read thus. In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty - July twenty third - State of Maine } True copy - Attest William Osgood Town Clerk - Cumberland ss -
Oct. 11. A.D. 1836.
Subscribed and sworn to before me -
Si Waterhouse Justice of Peace

I Thomas Waterhouse of Durham in the county of Cumberland & State of Maine aged 72 years, on oath Depose testify & say, that I was well acquainted with John Blake & his widow Mercy Blake deceased, for the last thirty years before their death, that his widow survived him & did not intermarry after his death, said John Blake was a very pious & zealous christian man & the only reason why he did not get his pension before he died was because he did not think it was christian like to receive a pension, therefore would not let any one prosecute his claim for a pension, — It I will further state under oath, that was believed by all who knew anything about said Blake, that he was in the war of the revolution & was entitled to a pension, — Thos Waterhouse
I Ruth Waterhouse aged 66 years, testify, that I am wife of the above named Thomas Waterhouse & that I testify to the above affidavit, that it is true, to my certain knowledge & belief, — Ruth Waterhouse
State of Maine, Cumberland S.S. Durham Nov 6 th 1856. Then personally appeared the above named Thomas & Ruth Waterhouse, well known to me as credible witnesses & made oath in due form of Law to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by them subscribed Before me T. Waterhouse Justice of the Peace

Extract from Records of Deaths in the Town of Parkman County of Piscataquis, & State of Maine -
Mrs. Mercy Blake widow of John Blake. - Died Sep. 16. 1846 AE 92 yrs. "
A true copy,
Attest, S. P. Shaw,
State of Maine, Piscataquis, ss.
Clerk of Town of Parkman.
Sep. 28. 1880 - Personally appeared S. P. Shaw and made oath that the above copy of Records of the Town of Parkman, attested by him the said Shaw, is a true copy - Before me, —
Isaiah Vickery a Justice of the Peace

State of Maine Cumberland ss: Clerk's Office Judicial Courts Portland November 12th A.D. 1850
I Charles C. Harmon Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Cumberland certify that Isaiah Vickery Isaiah Vickery is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Piscataquis as appears by the foregoing paper hereto annexed that he is duly qualified to act as such, that the Commission of the said Isaiah Vickery is dated May 4th A.D. 1844, and will expire May 4th A.D. 1851 and that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, the day and year first above written.
C. C. Harmon Clerk
Before me 1 st Waterhouse Justice of the Peace

No 7682
Revolutionary claim of The children of Mercy Blake widow of John Blake deceased S t Waterhouse Attorney in the case North Royal Maine
Dickins & Coombs

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts, PORTLAND, October 29th A. D 1850.
I, Charles C. Harmon, CLERK OF ALL THE JUDICIAL COURTS,
In and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that
Mr. Walahouse Esquire is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Cumberland; that Edward P. Briggs Esquire is an
Acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for the County of Sinclair as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that they are DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT as such; that the COMMISSION of the said Walahouse is dated February 13th A. D. 1845 and will expire February 13th A. D. 1852; that the commission of the said Briggs is dated May 26. 1848 and will expire May 26. 1855 ,
and that the following SIGNATURE purporting to be theirs, are Genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
Chas. C. Harmon, CLERK.

I Nathan Smith of Lisbon in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine aged 61 years on oath depose testi- fy and say, that I have lived in this Town the last sixty years, & that I was well acquainted with John Blake late of this town from my childhood to his death & was my near neighbor when he died, — I also testify that he left a widow who was Mercy Blake that she did not intermarry after her husband John Blake's death that she died a widow who died about 4 years since I also Depose testify and say that I am well acquainted with said John Blake & his wife Mercy Blake's child- ren, that John Blake, William Blake, Zebulon Blake, Sally Blodgett & Mary Hill, are children of the said John & Mercy Blake deceased, & the only surviving children, of the parties aforesaid. I hereby Depose testify and say that Mr. John Blake aforesaid, died on the 10 th of September 1839, That I was at said Blake's funeral and saw him put into his grave, I further Testify, that said John Blake was always reputed by all who heard his statements about his service in the war of the Revolution to have been a seaman on board the Navy and did render important service, & further That he has told me in his lifetime that he could get a pension but could live without it, & that he thought it not right to receive pensions for service in war, I also testify that Mr. Blake aforesaid was a very pious & a christian man, & the only reason in my mind that he did not over

make effort for his pension when living was that he thought it not right to receive pay for fighting & also that I have heard said Blake say that the only reason why he did not try for his pension was, that he would not have it, because he could live with money got in that way,
Nathan Smith
State of Maine Lincoln County S.S. Lisbon Oct 19 th 1850. Then personally appeared the above named Nathan Smith a man well known to me to be a man of respectability and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true (before me) Venerable Witness, Edward P. Briggs Justice of the Peace

I John Emmons of Lisbon in the county of Lincoln in the state of Maine aged forty eight years On oath Depose testify and say that I was well acquainted with Mr. John Blake & his wife in their lifetime That said John Blake was always reputed to have been deserving of a pension, & that he was a soldier or rather a seaman in the United States service during the war of the Revolution, That his wife Mercy Blake survived him, her husband, That she did not intermarry after her said husband's death, & died a widow, - about 4 years since, - also That said John Blake and his widow Mercy Blake's only surviving children are John Blake, William Blake, Zebulon Blake, Sally Bleton & Mary Hill, which are the only surviving children of said John & Mercy Blake deceased, also That the aforesaid statements under oath is true.
John Emmons
I John Emmons aforesaid, Depose testify and say that I was called to assist in burying the aforesaid John Blake, & that I acted as sexton at his funeral, That he died on the 10 th day of September eighteen hundred & thirty nine.
John Emmons
State of Maine Lincoln County S.S. Lisbon Oct 19 th A.D. 1850. Then personally appeared the above named John Emmons a man of respectability and a credible Witness & made oath in due form of law That the aforesaid affidavit is true. Before me Edward P. Briggs Justice of the Peace

I Hannah Blake of Lisbon in the county of Lincoln in the State of Maine aged sixty five years, on oath Depose testify that my maiden name was Smith, that I was well acquainted with Mr. John Blake & his wife & widow Mercy Blake both formerly of Lisbon aforesaid deceased, that said widow Mercy Blake died in Parkman about four years since, I also Testify, that said John Blake late of Lisbon deceased, was always reputed & believed to have been a seaman on board the Navy in the war of the Revolution, also that his reason which he gave to all his neighbors for not getting his pension, was, that he could live without a pension, & that he thought it was not right to receive a pension & that he would not have it, because, wars , was unjust, — also that said John Blake was known to be a very zealous christian man for the last thirty years before he died, & that his wife did not intermarry after her said husbands death and died a widow about 4 years since in Parkman this State, & that John Blake, William Blake, Zebulon Blake, Mary Hill & Sally Blither are the children and only surviving children of the said John & Mercy Blake deceased, — I also testify & say, that the statements aforesaid is true, Hannah Blake
State of Maine County of Lincoln S.S. Lisbon Oct 19 th A.D. 1851, Then personally appeared the above named Hannah Blake well known to me to be a credible witness & made oath that the above affidavit is true Before me, Edward P. Briggs Justice of the Peace

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts, PORTLAND, November 14th A. D. 1851
I, Charles C. Harmon, _____ CLERK OF ALL THE JUDICIAL COURTS, _____
In and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that _____
Alexander Skillin _____
Is an Acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for _____ the County of Cumberland as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT as such; that his COM- MISSION is dated June 11th _____ A. D. 1850 and will expire June 11th _____ A. D. 1857
and that the following SIGNATURE, purporting to be his W _____ Genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
W. H. Harmon _____ CLERK.

I John W. Gookin on oath testify & say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of North Yarmouth and am duly qualified for the same & that in one of the books of record of marriages (Vol 1 pag. 334) I find the following.
" 1780 July 23 John Blake and Mercy Dean of Royalston were married by Tristram Gilman Recorded by David Mitchell Town Clerk " A true copy Attest John W. Gookin Town Clerk of North Yarmouth for 1851 —
I John W. Gookin of North Yarmouth aforesaid on oath depose testify & say that the foregoing certificate of the record of the said John Blake and Mercy Dean's marriage is a true copy attest of said fact, when written out at full length would read thus, Seventeen hundred and eighty, July twenty third. John Blake and Mercy Dean of Royalston were married by Tristram Gilman Recorded by David Mitchell Town Clerk Attest John W. Gookin Town Clerk of North Yarmouth
Cumberland Co. North Yarmouth July 7th 1851 Subscribed & sworn to before me by the above named John W. Gookin      Alexander Skillin } Justice of the peace

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John W. Gookin the deponent and that he is Town Clerk of North Yarmouth the present year
North Yarmouth July 7 th 1851
Alexander Skillin } Justice of the Peace

Seaman On board Frigates Boston Deane & Haggie
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23620
Mercy Blake Wid of John Blake Seaman Rev War
Act July 4 th 1836
Index: Vol A , Page 69
[Arrangement of 1870.]

32.957 Maine John Blake deceased of _____ in the State of Maine who was a Seaman in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Revolution line for 22 months 18 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland at the rate of 90 Dollars 12 Cents per annum, to commence on the 11th day of March, 1831, & Ending 10 September 1839
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of Novr 1851 and sent to Sickens & Coombs Arrears to the Ath of Semi-annual allowance ending Present
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by J. P. Wightman Clerk, Book 16 Vol. 11 Page 6

No 7.082
Mercy Blake decd widow of John Moaine
Act 4 th July 1830 7 .
Letter to Dickins & Boombs March 19 th 1857.

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts, PORTLAND, November 25th A. D. 1857 }
I, Charles C. Harmon, _____ CLERK OF ALL THE JUDICIAL COURTS,
In and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that
Isaiah Vickery _____
Is an Acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for _____ the County of Piscataquis as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT as such; that his COM- MISSION is dated June 2nd _____ A. D. 1857 and will expire _____ June 2nd _____ A. D. 1858
and that the following SIGNATURES purporting to be his are _____ Genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
_____ C. C. Harmon CLERK.

I Thomas B Seabury do hereby certify that I am Town Clerk of the Town of Parkman in the State of Maine and have in my custody the record Book of deaths in said Town and find in said Book the are the following record.
Mrs Mary Blake Widow of John Blake died Sept 21 st Nenth Eighteen hundred and forty Six aged 92 years.
Parkman 7 th Nov r 1881
I hereby certify that Thomas B. Seabury is Town Clerk of Parkman, and that he was legally chosen & sworn for that office, to my personal knowledge.
Isaac Vickery Justice of Peace
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas B. Seabury, a man of respectability, and a credible witness, who is personally known to me as such, and made oath in due form of Law, that the foregoing by him subscribed is true. Before me
Isaac Vickery Justice of Peace

I Thomas B Seabury do hereby certify that I am here Clerk of the Town of Portland in the State of Maine and have in my custody the record Book of deaths in said Town and find in said Book the are the following record.
Mrs Mary Blake Widow of John Blake died Sept 14 th the Eighteen hundred and forty six aged 92 years.
And that the foregoing is a true copy of the record except the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows September 14 th 1846 - I further certify, that said record is in the hand writing of Samuel P. Dorr, who was Clerk of said Town at that time.
Thomas B. Seabury Clerk of the Town of Portland County of Cumberland and State of Maine
State of Maine
Piscataquis S.S. Portland Nov 7 th 1851
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas B. Seabury, a man of respectability, and a credible witness, who is person- ally known to me as such, and made Oath in due form of Law, that the foregoing by him subscribed is true Before me
Emiah Nickerson Justice of Peace

T Farnham 21 st June 1831
To whom it may concern. I hereby depose & say, that I was at the House of Stephen Blithins the time of the death of Mrs Mercy Blake. Widow, of John Blake deceased, & and assisted in the ceremonies of her funeral.
My witness
Bradbury True
Isaiah Kirkey
The above Bradbury True appeared and made oath to the above statement about the death of Mrs. Mercy Blake before me Isaiah Kirkey Justice of Peace

Parkman 21 st June 1831 To whom it may concern. This is to certify that that Mrs. Mary Blake, Widow of John Blake, died Sept 16 th 1826. at my house in Parkman
Married Witness Isaiah Kibbey
Stephen Blethen
The above Stephen Blethen appeared and made oath to the above statement as regards the death of Mrs. Blake before me
Isaiah Kibbey { Justice of Peace }

Parkman June 21 1857 To whom it may concern. This certifies that Mrs. Mercy Blake Widow of John Blake died Sept 16 th 1846 aged 92 years as recorded on the Book of Record of deaths made by Samuel P. Shaw Clerk at that time in the Town of Parkman. And I do on Oath certify that this is a correct Copy of the record of the death aforesaid —
Witness Bradbury J. B. Scabury Town Clerk True
Piscataqua ss June 21 st 1857
The above Thomas B. Scabury appeared and made Oath to the above Record before me. (I also state that Thomas B. Scabury is Town Clerk of Parkman) Frederick Nickling, Justice of Peace

Washington, Sept. 6 th 1857.
Sir:
We respectfully ask a reexamination of the claim of the children of Mercy Blake dec d , of the State of Maine, who claim arrears of Pension due said Mercy, under Act of 4 th July 1836, on account of the Revolutionary services of her husband, John Blake dec d .
The letter written to us in this case, on the 19 th of March last, makes but one objection to the allowance of the claim, to wit: That the depositions are taken before a Justice of the Peace, who is also an agent in the prosecution of the claim.
We know of no rule which renders an agent for the prosecution of a claim incompetent to swear a witness to an affidavit, made in support of the claim. We admit, however, that in a case where all, or a great part of the material testimony in support

of the claim appears to have been taken before a Magistrate, who is also an agent in the case, more than ordinary caution should be observed, in its examination, especially, if there are any grounds of suspicion, as to honesty of such a - gear.
In this case, however, it will be seen on Examination, that a very small proportion of the testimony has been taken before Mr. Waterhouse, the agent alluded to in your letter of March last.
The testimony in the case is as follows:
1 st The certificate of the Secy of State of Massachusetts, as to service. 2 o The certificate of the of North Yarmouth Town Clerk as to the record of the marriage: sworn to before Mr Waterhouse, I P 3 o The dispositions of Thomas Waterhouse & his wife Ruth, taken before same.

4 th Deposition of Nathan Smith, taken before Edward P Briggs, JP
5 th Deposition of Hannah Blake, taken before Briggs .
It will be seen, that of all this evidence, only the certificate of the Town Clerk, of North Yarmouth, and the deposition of Prof Waterhouse and wife, are obnoxious to the objection of having been taken before an agent in the case.
As to the Certificate of the of North Yarmouth Town Clerk, we beg leave to say, that we suppose it to be competent evidence without being sworn to at all; being a certified copy of a record required to be kept by the law of the land of the state, and authenticated by the certificate of the Officer having the legal custody of the records. At all events, there is not the slightest ground of suspicion, that this certifi- cate, in the hand writing of the Town Clerk himself , is different in substance from what it would have been if sworn to before any other Justice.
6 th Certificate of Aaron Clark of Pownal in the time of the death of Mary Blake, sworn to before Justice Nickels

As to the dispositions of Phoebe Waterhouse and wife, we have only to say, that if the fact of their having been taken before said Agent is considered a fatal objection, we have are perfectly willing to submit the case upon the other testimony. — We think there is ample testimony to make out the claim exclusive of these dispositions.
We beg leave to call your attention particularly to the statement made under oath, by Mr Blake, as the foundation for his application to the Sec'y of State of Massachusetts. As this statement was necessarily made before it could be known what the records in the Office of the Secretary of State would show, the correspondence between the service therein described, and that proved by the certificate of the Sec'y of State, should of itself, be taken as the most satisfactory evidence of identity.
Very respectfully Your obt servts,
Dickins & Hemenway,
J. E. Heath Esq Comm r of Pensions.

Washington, Dec. 6 th 1850.
Sir:
Enclosed you will find the declaration of the children of Mercy Blake dec d widow of John Blake, dec d claiming arrears of pension due the father under the act of 1832, and the mother under the act of 1836, together with Evidence of service, marriage, &c.
Very respectfully
Your obt. servts
Dickins & Coombs,
Atty s for Ctt s .
James E. Heath Esq Com r of Pens.

Brief in the case of Mercy Blake dec d wid of John County and State of act 4 July 1836.
Claim, ("original," or " for increase. ")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Evidence of service; Recors. of Marriage — do.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent.
Dickens Hoombs Present,
F. F. Kirby Examining Clerk.

Brief in the case of John Blake dec d County and State of Maine act 7 June 1832.
Claim, ("original," or " for increase. ")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Evidence of service; Record.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent.
Dickens Hoombs Present.
F. F. Kirby Examining Clerk.

No 38. 261
John Blake dec d
Maine
Act 7. June 1832
Adm o per Larnaw for 22 Mo. 18 days. $90.12 to 10 th Sept 1839, when he died.
Payable to W m Blake, John Blake, Zebulon Blake, Mary Hill & Sally Blethen only surviving children
bequeath to Dickens Hooburn Present.

Mercy Blake dec d wid of John Maine,
Aet 4 July 1836.
Seaman 22 Mo. 18 days. $90.12 per An. from 10 Sept. 1839 when her husband died to 16 Sept 1846 when she died - Payable to.
Wm Blake, John Blake, Zebulon Blake, Mary Hill, & Sally Blethen only surviving children
Dickens Hoomb Present

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston :
16 th September 1859.
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
14 ai,
BLAKE, JOHN (NAVY) W 23620

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.
A handwritten signature in cursive, appearing to read "W. H. Allen".
Secretary of the Commonwealth.