Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-19
Certificates of Rev.
OlutiOnary War Claims


a very unpretentious form, has been re-
ing United States Senate Document VOL g.,
Daughters of the American Revolution,
18th report October 1913 October, 1914"
Included within the contents are matters
concerning the Revolutionary War sol
diers and their claims against the gov
ernment that will be of the greatest i'm
portance to all engaged in looking up the
records of families. whose ancestors were
engaged in that conflict.
Appendix A is given up to "Pierce's
Register a register of the certificates
issued by John Pierce, Esq, pay
master general and commissioner of
Army accounts for the United States to
officers and soldiers of the Continental
army under act of July 4, 17S3
The knowledge Of the existence of such
a document has been in the possession Of
but few people. Only one copy of this
list was known to exist. it being recently
brought to light through the researches
of Mrs. Amos G. Draper. chairman of the
committee of the Descendants of the
Signers of the Declaration to copy and
classify the scattered military records,
and through her efforts the United States
has published it.
Congress on Aug. t. 1890 passed an act
authorizing the funding of the war debt.
The government was often short of funds
in those days and a large amount was
due the soldiers.
Congress on July 4, 1888 passed resolve
to authorize the paymaster general to
settle and adjust all accounts between
the United States and officers and men Of
the American army. so as to include
every demand. provided always, that
the certificates to officers shall be de-
layed for reasonable time to obtain the
return Of payments or advances to them
by states or public departments, where
in the opinion of the paymaster general
such delay be necessary"
Paymaster General Pierce prepared and
delivered over $1,000 certificates, some Of
them as small as 81. This issue was be-
gun on July H. 1883 and completed on
Sept 10. 1855. A few more were issued
in May, 1887 and possibly a few later.
With a few exceptions-S62 certificates,
amounting to $31.17o.36-all have been
cancelled. The act Of July 4, 1890 made
special provision for the refunding.
The total number Of certificates record
ed was 93,29s, amounting to SIC, O,791, ,S15.7s.
Practically all of these papers have been
destroyed; If one should be found 1t
would undoubtedly be in some private
collection of old papers and documents.
The register of the national treasury re-
ported on Sept. 80, 1896 that on jap. 1, 1890
the total amount of army certificates was
$40, ,967, 1852 y
Payments of these certificates has been
barred since June 12 1899, by acts ap-
proved March g. 1875 and June - 1898, ex-
cept that such acts We're suspended for
two years by the act of April 13, 1918, and
for a like time by the act Of May T. 1922.
Pierce's register gives the number of
each certificate, the name of the soldier
and the amount due according to the GER
tificate. A complete index has been pre-
pared and is in the Congressional Libra
ry at Washington, which gives the state
and in some cases the regiment of the
soldier. This will be an invaluable list
as application to that department, with
the number and name of the soldier, will
bring all the information there on file
This Senate Document will probably be
used for reference as much as any pub
lication of the kind for long time.
William Lincoln Palmer of Boston and
Winthrop, Mass, was a recent caller at
the State library, coming to present a
copy Of palmer Pedigree of William
Lincoln Palmer" Mr.. Palmer Is a native
of Portland and a we'll known worker
along genealogical and historical lines
and a member of all the leading societies
engaged In that work. He is a frequent
visitor at our library.