Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19679, John Harris, Continental Mass. Navy And Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Mass
Navy and Privateers
Harris, John
Mary 6
N. 19679
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for entries
Blank lined area for entries

Massachusetts 31657
Mary C. Harris widow of John Harris Maps who was a Private H6
in the U.S. Navy for 7 Mos. Private 5 Mos. Coxswain & 12 Mos. Mate —
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 135 — Dollars 83 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of December 1843 and sent to
James Gregory Marblehead Mass
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 44

3352
7 July 3352
4 July 4089
Mary Brown
Mary C. Harris
Wid of M c Harris
Map.
Ad July 7 1838
Maria 1783
died 1795
Allow
Time for Inf. 23 33
5 Coxwan 22 50
12 Mate 90
$135.83
United States Navy
Capt Tucker
Joseph Markhead Map

1035/1842 1771 State of Massachusetts } ss. Marblehead. County of Essex - - - }
In this thirtieth day of August A. D. 1838, personally appeared before me David Rammels Esquire, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas & a Court of Record, within & for said State & County, Mary C. Harris, a resident of said Marblehead, aged Seventy-five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, & from the best of her knowledge & belief, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows": That she is the widow of John Harris who was a Private in the Company of John Selman of the 21 st Regiment of Massachusetts Foot commanded by Colonel John Glover, in the War of the Revolution: That her said husband resided in said Marblehead at the time of his enlistment, & enlisted in said Corps & in said town, in the eight months' service, as a volunteer on the thirtieth day of May A. D. 1775: That her said husband continued in said Corps doing his duty in & about said Marblehead, until the 22 nd day of June following, when he marched with said Regiment to Cambridge, near Boston, & joined the American troops encamped there then under General Washington Ward: That in a short time after General Washington arrived, took the command: That her said husband continued doing his duty in said Regiment at said Cambridge & around said Boston until the thirty first day of December following, when the term of enlistment having expired said Regiment was discharged.
She further declares, that according to the best of her knowledge & belief, her said husband again immediately enlisted at said Cambridge, as a private & volunteer, for the term of one year, into the 16 th Regiment of Infantry, of the Continental Army, Massachusetts Line, commanded by the aforesaid John Glover: That she cannot tell what Company he served in in said Corps: That shortly after his said enlistment he marched

Grover, in the War of the Revolution; that her said husband resided in said Marblehead at the time of his enlistment, & enlisted in said Corps & in said town, in the eight months' service, as a volunteer on the thirtieth day of May A.D. 1775; that her said husband continued in said Corps doing his duty in & about said Marblehead, until the 22 d day of June following, when he marched with said Regiment to Cambridge, near Boston, & joined the American troops encamped there then under General Washington Ward; that in a short time after General Washington arrived, took the command; that her said husband continued doing his duty in said Regiment at said Cambridge & around said Boston until the thirty first day of December following, when the term of enlistment having expired said Regiment was discharged.
She further declares, that according to the best of her knowledge & belief, her said husband again immediately enlisted at said Cambridge, as a private & volunteer, for the term of one year, into the 1 st Regiment of Infantry, of the Continental Army, Massachusetts Line, commanded by the aforesaid John Glover; that she cannot tell what Company he served in in said Corps; that shortly after his said enlistment he marched with said Regiment to Beverly in the said County of Essex, where said Regiment was ordered to take up its quarters to guard the Port, recruit more men, & furnish crews to such State & Continental Privates as wished to obtain them from its ranks; that he continued with said Regiment doing his duty, in & about said Beverly, until some time in the month of July following, at which time the late Commodore Samuel Tucker arrived there commander of the Continental Schooner called the Hancock; that her said husband volunteered with a number of her fellow townsmen to enter into the Naval service on board said Schooner, & entered as a Seaman accordingly, & served in the capacity of Coxswain of one of the Boats; that her said husband went & served two cruises on board said Schooner in her said capacity of Coxswain, & returned from the last cruise some time the latter part of November or first of December following, & was then discharged; that they succeeded in capturing six prizes in the course of said two cruises, & got them all safe home except one, which

was retaken.
She further Declares, that immediately after the capture of Burgoyne's Army, in the Autumn of 1777, her said husband's father was entrusted with the command of a Continental vessel called a "Snow", to proceed to France to carry the news of the capture of Burgoyne & to bring home a cargo of Military Stores: That she cannot tell what was the name of this vessel, & she further believes she was unarmed : That her said husband acted in the capacity of mate of his said father & proceeded to France accordingly, & arrived home some months after in either the following winter or the spring of 1778:
She further Declares, that according to the best of her knowledge & belief, her said husband again entered the Naval Service, & some time in the spring of 1778, enlisted as a volunteer & Steward at said Newbedhead, & joined the Continental Frigate called the Boston, commanded by the aforesaid Samuel Packer, & served in her said capacity of Steward on board of said Frigate, but she cannot state whether he went more than one cruise in said Frigate, although she believes he might: That she has no documentary evidence & knows of no person living in this quarter who served on board said Frigate at the same time her said husband so served, & therefore cannot produce any testimony in proof of the facts which she has herein from the best of her knowledge & belief alleged: That she begs to refer to the Rolls of said Frigate presumed to be in the War Department, Washington, for the requisite proof of all the facts of her said husband's services for one or more cruises on board said Frigate: That after this last mentioned service of her said husband he was in various privateering services & in prison the whole war, but she does not at present recollect of any other Public Service performed by her said late husband than that which she has herein stated.
She further Declares that she was married to the said John Harris on the twenty-third day of November, in the year nineteen hundred & eighty three: That her husband the aforesaid John Harris died of a consumption at

time in the spring of 1778, entered as a volunteer & Steward at said Marblehead, & joined the Continental Frigate called the Boston, commanded by the aforesaid Samuel Tucker, & served in her said capacity of Steward on board of said Frigate, but she cannot state whether he went more than one cruise in said Frigate, although she believes he might: That she has no documentary evidence & knows of no person living in this quarter who served on board said Frigate at the same time her said husband so served, & therefore cannot produce any testimony in proof of the facts which she has heretofore from the best of her knowledge & belief alleged: That she begs to refer to the Rolls of said Frigate presumed to be in the War Department, Washington, for the requisite proof of all the facts of her said husband's services for one or more cruises on board said Frigate: That after this last mentioned service of her said husband he was in various privateering services & in prison the whole war, but she does not at present recollect of any other Public Service performed by her said late husband than that which she has heretofore stated.
She further Declares that she was married to the said John Harris on the twenty-third day of November, in the year seventeen hundred & eighty three: That her husband the aforesaid John Harris died of a Consumption at home in said Marblehead on the twenty-third day of June, seventeen hundred & ninety-five, & that she has remained a widow ever since his death: That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred & ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Witness
James Gregory
Mary C. Harris
Sworn to & subscribed, on the day & year above written - the said applicant being unable by reason of infirmity to appear in Court. Before me, David

Extract from the records of Marriages in the Town of Marblehead, County of Essex & State of Massachusetts,
Seventeen hundred Eighty three November Twenty third Mr John Harris & Miss Mary Warner both of this town
I certify that the above is a true extract from the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows,
Viz. 1783 Nov r 23
Richard Homan, above named depose & say that I hold the office of clerk of the Town of Marblehead, County & State aforesaid, & that the above is a true extract from the records with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Richard Homan clerk of the Town of Marblehead
Essex ss.
Marblehead September 13th 1838
Then personally appeared, Richard Homan a credible witness and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me -
James Gregory, S. of the Peace.
I, William Harris jr, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the Seventieth year of my age: that I was in the seventh year of my age at the time the Revolutionary War broke out, & was consequently too young to take any part in it at its commencement, but that in the Spring of the year 1782 I shipped on board the Private Armed Ship Buccaneer of Beverly, Joseph Pearson, commander, & sailed from Salem on a cruise, & after cruising about four months we put into the Port of L'Orient, in France, & got our ship equipped: that we afterwards made two cruises from the said Port of L'Orient, & altogether captured seventeen Prizes: that my late brother, John Harris, deceased, & the late husband of Mary O'Harris who is understood to have signed the Declaration hereon - was Prize Master on board said Ship Buccaneer: that I accompanied him in his said capacity of Prize Master in two of our said cruises into France, & also home to said Beverly in one of them - a valuable ship - by which time the news of Peace had arrived: that we were absent from home on said cruise altogether thirteen months: that said John Harris being an elder brother of mine gives me a distinct recollection of part of his services performed in said war, & I accordingly well recollect that my said late brother, the aforesaid John Harris, was attached & belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Glover, in the first year of the war, to wit, 1775, & I do well recollect that said John Harris marched with said Regiment from said Marblehead to Cambridge, near Boston, & there served in said Regiment until the close of the year, & until said Regiment was discharged. I cannot state positively what company he served in, but I am nevertheless certain he served in said Regiment as I have above declared.

1. William Harris, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the Seventieth year of my age: that I was in the Seventh year of my age at the time the Revolutionary War broke out, & was consequently too young to take any part in it at its commencement, but that in the Spring of the year 1782 I shipped on board the Private Armed Ship Buccaneer of Beverly, Joseph Pearson, commander, & sailed from Salem on a cruise, & after cruising about four months we put into the Port of L'Orient, in France, & got our ship refitted: that we afterwards made two cruises from the said Port of L'Orient, & altogether captured seventeen Prizes; that my late brother, John Harris, deceased, & the late husband of Mary C. Harris who is understood to have signed the Declaration hereon - was Prize Master on board said Ship Buccaneer: that I accompanied him in his said capacity of Prize Master in two of our said cruises into France, & also home to said Beverly and one other a valuable Ship by which time the news of Peace had arrived: that we were absent from home on said cruise altogether thirteen months: that said John Harris being an elder brother of mine gives me a distinct recollection of part of his services performed in said war, & I accordingly well recollect that my said late brother, the afterwards John Harris, was attached & belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Glover, in the first year of the war, to wit, 1775, & I do well recollect that said John Harris marched with said Regiment from said Marblehead to Cambridge, near Boston, & there served in said Regiment until the close of the year, & until said Regiment was discharged. I cannot state positively what company he served in, but I am nevertheless certain he served in said Regiment as I have above declared.
After the service of my said brother at Cambridge he was in much service of various kinds, & in prison, "off & on" all the war, & I well recollect that he was mate of my late father John Harris in a vessel called a Snow, in the fall of 1776 - a State or Continental vessel - & was sent to France by order of the government to carry the news of Burgoyne's Defeat, & to obtain a cargo of military stores: that he accordingly proceeded to France & returned, but how long he was gone, and the name of the vessel I am unable to state: that the above is all the Public Service of the said John Harris I am able to testify to, although he might have been in more, & I may have forgotten the particulars of it. Said John Harris sickened & died in this town more than Forty years ago, & I know that said Mary C. Harris is still his widow & has not intermarried since his death.
Witness,
William Harris
Saml. Avery J. Grogan
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Essex
ss. Marblehead, October 26th, 1883.
Then personally appeared the above named William Harris, a credible & undoubted witness, & made solemn oath in due form of law, to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him in my presence subscribed.
Before me, James Grogan, J. of the Peace.

Massachusetts
Mary C. Harris. widow of John Harris. Decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 23 d June, 1795. - Essex C o - in the State of Massachusetts who was a priv: &c - in the _____ commanded by Captain Tucker of the _____ commanded _____ in the U. S. Navy - for T mo : priv: Inf y : 5 mo: Coxwain & 12 mo: Mate - U. S. Navy -
Enscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of 135 Dollars 83 - Cents per annum, commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th : day of July - 1839 and sent to James Gregory, Marblehead, Mass
Arrears to the 4 th of Mar: 1839 $407.49 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 67.91
475.40
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by M c Stewart Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 - Page 95
u u u of u by by by lu = S at to = E = A G R B

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 19679
Mary C. Harris Widow of John Harris Prin. Rev. Wm.
Act: Mar. 3 rd 1843
Index:—Vol. 84 , Page 3B
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I, Benjamin Webber, of Gloucester in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the eighty-third year of my age; that I performed service in the War of the Revolution; that I was in the Battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June 1775, & at that time belonged to the company of Nathaniel Warner of Colonel Little's Regiment, & served thereon around Boston until the British evacuated the place; that I soon after entered the Army again & served for about three months in the 14th Regiment of the Continental Army commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) John Glover; that we of said Regiment were at that time stationed in Beverly in the said County of Essex; that I belonged to that Company Regiment of said Regiment which was commanded by Joseph Worcester; that about the last of May or the first of June of that year (1776) there was a call upon the said Regiment for a crew to the Continental Schooner  Ramsey , Samuel Tucker Esquire commander; that I myself & several others volunteered & entered on board said Schooner myself as a Seaman, & served in her two cruises of from two to three months duration each , during which we took

several prizes, & arrived back to Boston some time in the month of November of the same year having been employed on board said vessel for the period of about five months , & I do well recollect that John Harris & James Tooley of Marblehead belonged to said vessel at the same time with my- self: that said John Harris was Steward on board & said James Tooley was boatswain , & that they both served on board during both cruises, & I do further certify, that, according to the best of my knowledge & belief, said John Harris was the late husband of Mary C. Harris, & that said James Tooley was the first husband of Mary Brown, both aged widows now living in said Marblehead. I myself was pensioned under the law of March 18th 1818, & afterwards dropped from the Roll under the act of May 1 st 1820. I am now a Pensioner under the law of June 7th 1832 March 1 st 1823.
Witnessed by
Benjamin Webber
Three interlineations & one erasure before signing.
Nancy W Hooper J. Gregory
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Gloucester, November 17th 1858. County of Essex - {
Then the above named Benjamin Webber, a gentleman who is personally known to me to be of good moral character & good character for truth & veracity, personally appeared, & made solemn oath, in due form of law, to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me, James Gregory, J. of the Peace.

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. David Cummins is Judge of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County. That as was at the date of these papers
that James Gregory Esquire was at the date of these is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
May 15. A. D. 1839
John Prince Clerk.

4630
Mary C. Harris
$135 83
3157 344
James Gregory Marblehead Mass-

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, } ss. Marblehead. County of Essex.
On this twenty-second day of July, A. D. 1843, personally appeared before me James Gregory, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Essex, Mary C. Harris, a resident of said Marblehead, aged nearly eighty 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 March 3 d 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served "during the Revolutionary War."
That she is the widow of John Harris, who was a Private in the Company of Capt John Selman, of the 21 st Regiment of Massachusetts Foot, commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) John Glover in the eight months' service of 1775: Also a Private in the 14 th Regiment of the Continental Army, Massachusetts Line, commanded by the said Colonel John Glover in the year 1776: Also a Private on board the Continental Schooner Hancock, Samuel Tucker Esqr commander - two cruises - in 1776: Also first officer or Mate of "a Snow" which went to France in the latter part of the year 1777, to carry news of the capture of Burgoyne's Army, and bring home a cargo of Munitions of War for the government: Also Steward of the Continental Fleet Boston, said Samuel Tucker Esqr commander, in the year 1778: Also in much other service, the particulars of which she is unable fully to describe, and all in the said Revolutionary War.
She further declares that on the thirteenth day of July, A. D. 1839, she was pensioned for said service, under the law of July 7 th 1838, at the rate of one hundred and thirty-five dollars and 83 cents per annum, and that she is still a widow.
Witnessed by
Hannah W. Harris
Mary C. Harris
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written - and I certify that said declarant is personally well known to me the said Justice.
Before me James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston July 26. 1813
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation James Gregory was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Geo. A. Dole
Secretary of the Commonwealth.