Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2101, William Coffin, Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass Sea Service
Coffin, William Mary
R 2101
CONTENTS

V Mary Coffin widow of William Massachusetts
Rejected
per let 17 Oct. 1838 to W. Person do - do - Oct. 29 '38.
Husband served less than six months,
Act 4 July 1836

Gloucester, Ms. October 23d. 1838
James L. Edwards, Esq. n Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
Your letter of the 17th instant has been received, stating that William Coffin served as Surgeon on board the Tyrannicide 5 months 18 days; and the claim of his widow has been rejected.
After Mrs. Mary Coffin made her declaration, it was ascertained that her husband did not serve a second cruise on board the Tyrannicide. His service in 1778 was on board the Cumberland commanded by Captain Harraden of Salem; but I cannot learn whether she was a States vessel or not. A list of all private armed vessels belonging to Salem in the Revolutionary war was published lately; the Cumberland is not on the list.
If the Cumberland was owned by the State of Massachusetts, Mrs. Coffin will be entitled to a Pension; if not, the claim has been properly rejected.
I am respectfully your obedt. servt.
William Ferson

In at Maf.
Free
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

James L. Edwards, Esq. n commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.

Gloucester; W.ass y . 1 Sept. 1838
James L. Edwards, Esq r . Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
Enclosed is the declaration of Mary Coffin, widow, for a pension under the Act of 7 July, 1838.
I notice, that the marriage took place at a later date than declared;
I am respectfully Your obed t serv t .
William Ferson

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
2101
P. O. _____
May Coffin
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

1015 1016
3782
Mary Luffin of William Massachusetts.
on roll vol 39 page 88 begun from March 11 1777 to 29 and 1777 = 5 mo. 18
on roll vol 39 page 93 begun as above.
no other seen than above

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that
Hon. D. A. White is Judge of Probate
within and for said County, and that his signature hereon is genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
August 4. A. D. 1838,
John Prince Clerk.

State of Massachusetts County of Essex, ss.
On this 3d day of August, 1838, personally appeared before the Hon. Daniel A. White, Judge of the Probate Court for the County of Essex Mary Coffin, a resident of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 81 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836: That she is the widow of William Coffin, who was according to the best of her knowledge and belief, a Surgeon in the Revolutionary war as follows. That he resided at said Gloucester, when he entered the service by voluntary enlistment. That he entered as Surgeon on board the Brig Tyrannicide, commanded by Capt. Hartt of Salem on or about the 1st March 1777 and served about 9 or ten months to December, 1777. That entered on board the same vessel in the month of January and served therein in the same capacity to October or November, 1778, being about 9 or 10 months.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Coffin at Boston on the twenty fifth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven; that her husband, the said William Coffin died on the 20th day of June, 1827; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs herewith annexed.
Mary Coffin
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written
before me
D A White Judge of Probate

Marriages
Bos
" William Coffin, Mary Langdon, Seven- " Ten - hundred, seventy-eight, March 31. thirty-five
I Francis Parkman, Pastor of the New North Church in Boston in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "1778 March 31." Francis Parkman
I Francis Parkman above named depose and say, that I hold the office of Pastor of the New North Church in the city, county and State aforesaid, that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church with the exception above named as certified by me. (Mary Mrs. Coffin) Francis Parkman
We Benjamin H. Hough and William Babson of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts of lawful age on oath testify, that Dr. William Coffin within named, died, according to the best of our recollection, on the 20th day of June, 1827, leaving a widow named Mary, who has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband, William Coffin, and has not intermarried since that period
Benj. H. Hough William Babson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
On this twenty eighth day of August. Eighteen hundred and thirty eight. before me William Ferson, Notary Public, by legal authority admitted and sworn and dwelling in Gloucester, personally came Benjamin H. Hough and William Babson, well known to me as credible witnesses and Francis Parkman above named, who severally made oath to the truth of the deposition and certificate of marriage by them subscribed
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal on the day and year above named
William Ferson, Not Public