Source:

Dyer, Charles. Revolutionary War.

Pension File. File W. 21.028.

Massachusetts’s Navy: Captain. Pension filed by Bethiah Dyer (nee Cotton). "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty - Land - Warrant Application Files." Mircofilm Series M804, Roll 880, Frames 316-358. National Archives, Central Plains Region, Kansas City, MO.

The "Page" notation refers to the page number within the original document. The "MF Frame" notation denotes the microfilm frame where the information is located. A series of "---" denotes an word illegible word. Due to significant differences in spelling, grammar, and punctuation between then and now I have not indicated "[sic]" within these documents where errors might have occurred. The "misspellings" should be those of the original writers. I have also added some punctuation in a few places where I thought it would be helpful to the reader.

[MF Frame 317]

I Thomas Crew Clerk of the Town of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth in the State of Mafsachusetts do hereby certify that it appears by the Records of marriages in said town that the marriage of Charles Dyer & Bethiah Cotton was duly & legally solemnized by the Rev Jacob Bacon January 19th 1773.

Attest Th: Drew. Clerk of the town of Plymouth

Plymouth Aug 20.1836

[Page 1, MF Frame 318]

State of Mafsachusetts

Plymouth County J

Be it known that on this tenth day of August one thousand eight hundred & thirty six personally appeared before the Honorable Willey Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County. Bethiah Dyer a resident of Plymouth in said County & Commonwealth aged Eighty six 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 of an Act of Congrefs pafsed July 4, 1846. That she is the widow of Charles Dyer late of said Plymouth, deceased, who served in the capacities herein after set in the Navy of the Revolution War.

The said Charles Dyer served in the capacity of [blank space] on board the Schooner Harrison, a fullie armed vefsel in the service of the United Colonies of North America under the Command of Capt William Coit, said service commencing early in the autumn of the Year 1775 she cannot tell the [Page 2, MF Frame 319] precise time but she thinks in September & that he served on board said vefsel until he was appointed Captain of her which commifsion is dated Jan 10.1776 That the said Charles Dyer immediately on termination of this cruise aforesaid was commifsioned as Captain of said Armed Schooner Harrison then & thereafter in the service of the United Colonies of North America & that he served in said capacity of Captain from the twentieth day of January 1776 to the warm weather of the same season being May or June as near as she can remember.

Said Charles soon after was commifsioned as First Lieutenant on board the Brigantine Independence fitted out by Mafsachusetts Bay in the summer of 1776 commanded by Simeon Sampson, that said Dyer served on said vefsel in that capacity until she was taken by the British & carried into Halifax & said Dyer was a prisoner there about seven months.

The the said Charles Dyer also served nine months as First Lieutenant on board the Brigantine Hazard fitted out by the State of Mafsachusetts during her first cruise under the command of Simeon Sampson from Aug 10.1777 to May 20.1778.

She cannot fix the precise length of the several services with any more precision than she has done.

[Page 3, MF Frame 320] She further declares that she was married to the said Charles Dyer on the nineteenth day of January 1773, that her husband the said Charles Dyer perished at sea on his pafsage from the West Indies bound to Plymouth about fifty years ago and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

her

Bethiah X Dyer

Mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written, before me, and I hereby certify that the said Bethiah Dyer is unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity.

Wilkes Wood, Judge

of Probate

I Jacob Loud Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the Honorable Wilkes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature. And I do further certify that the foregoing ------- the original declaration in the application of [Page 4, MF Frame 321] Bethiah Dyer for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of the court of Probate for said County this twentieth day of August A.D. 1836

Jacob H Loud

Register of Probate

[Page 1, MF Frame 330]

Plymouth Mafs

August 20.1836

J. L. Edwards Esq

Sir

When I addrefsed you a note requesting certain copies from the files of Isaac Drew I wished them to aide Mrs. Bethiah Dyer in stating the servises of her husband so that she might obtain a pension. It was not my intention to make any improper use of them. It must be apparent to every reflecting mind that it is utterly impofsible for these old women to tell in what Regiments, companies or Vefsels their husbands served 50 or 60 years ago. They must have the aid of some record or they must fail of that benefit intended for them by the Act of July 4.1836.

I send you herewith Mrs. Dyers papers & having made myself somewhat familiar with her case I take the liberty to arrange the whole matter with the evidence she has in relation to each particular service.

1st

She says her husband served in some capacity or other on board the Sch Harrison Capt William Coit in the fall of the Year 1775. I presume there is no person now living who was in her at that cruise. I forwarded to you in the case of Isaac Drew certain papers from among the papers of the late Hon. Eph. Spooner among which was a payroll of services on board this sch at this cruise. Dyer if not an officer was probably a seaman. Whether that role containes the names of marines only I cannot recollect. If it contains the names of all on board Mrs. Dyer is confident that her husbands name will be found there. I have it strongly imprefsed on my mind that Drew said he was there. As we could not consistently have [Page 2, MF Frame 331] accefs to the papers of Drew we can only refer you to that file for such proof as it may afford of Dyers service. There is no other proof to be had.

2

Dyer was appointed Captain of the Harrison Jan 20.1776. His commifsion is sent with these paper. As to the length of the cruise all Mrs. Dyer can say is that he did not return home until warm weater. There is one person now living in this town who was on board in that cruise named Samuel Robbins a very respectable old gentleman whose deposition is sent heewith & for convenient reference is marked A. In support of this term of service you are also referred to the application of said Isaac Drew wherein I am confident he claims for service under Capt Dyer in this same vefsel & his declaration made under oath is certainly strong evidence in support of this claim.

3rd

Mrs. Dyer says that her husband after he left the Sch Harrison did not remain long at home before Capt Simeon Sampson of this town who was appointed to command the Continental Armed Brig Independence obtained for said Dyer a Lieutenants commifsion on board said Brig. He went to sea in her - they were successful & took a number of prises - but at last were taken themselves & carried into a place in the British provinces & from thence taken to Halifax & detained there several months as prisoners until they were exchanged. She does not know whether there is any documentary evidence of this service or not. If there is it is probably in your pofsefsion. There is some account of this service in a "History of Plymouth" by the venerable Dr. James Thacher author of a Military Journal & many other works page 222-3 of the 1st edition. If the work is not in your pofsefsion I presume Dr. Jewall of your city [Page 3, MF Frame 332] may have it as he is an intimate friend & confidant of Dr. Thacher. In proof of this term of service you will have sent herewith the depositions of William Weston & Baranabas Otis marked B and C.

4th

The next claim is for service nine months as 1st Lieut on board Brig Hazard under Simeon Sampson & this is proved by the Certificate of the Seal of State John P. Bigelow Esq.

Proof of the applicants identity, that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband Dyer & that said Dyer was lost at Sea is contained in the Deposition of Major Jos. Thomas marked D.

Proof of the death of Charles Dyer is also proved by the Deposition of William Weston marked B.

Proof of the marriage of Charles Dyer to the present applicant is contained in Certificate marked E.

As early consideration of this application is desired as your engagements will permit.

Very respectfully, Your obt sr

Jacob H. Loud

[Page 1, MF Frame 334]

I Samuel Robbins of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth aged eighty three years on oath do testify & say that in the Winter of the year 1776 in January I enlisted on board the armed Schooner Harrison commanded by Capt Charles Dyer of this town & I served on board said schooner during all the time said Dyer commanded which must have been according to the best of my recollection as much as three months & might have been more but I have not the means of ascertaining the precise length of time. Said Schooner mounted four years on carriages four pounders & some . We had a brush with a notorious British commander in these seas by the name of Dawson but escaped him.

his

Samuel X Robbins

mark

Plymouth J. Aug. 20.1836 Then the above named Samuel Robbins personally appeared & subscribed & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit before me & I do certify that he is a credible person.

Jacob H. Loud

Jus. Peace

[Page 2, MF Frame 335]

Commonwealth of Mafsachusetts

Plymouth

I M ------- Clerk of the Judicial bench for the County aforesaid hereby testify that Jacob H Loud Esq before whom the foregoing depositions were sworn is a Justice of the Peace for the Same County of Plymouth duly commifsioned - -------- and acting under the authority of the said Commonwealth - and that his signature of the several depositions hereunto affixed is the true signature of the said Magistrate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto let my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court on this Twentieth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.

M --------

[Page 1, MF Frame 336]

I William Weston of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth: aged seventynine years on oath do testify & say that in the Revolutionary War I was well acquainted with Charles Dyer of said Plymouth who married Bethiah Cotton & that I knew of his serving on board several fullie armed vefsels at different periods of the War. In the year 1776 I enlisted on board a privateer being a schooner called the Hope commanded by Walter Hatch. We were captured & carried into Cumberland near Halifax Nova Scotia about the last of November in the year 1776. The Continental Brig Independence, Commanded by Simeon Sampson who I well knew, was captured by a British vefsel commanded by one Capt. Dawson & sent into Cumberland. Charles Dyer was first Lieutenant on board the Independence & I saw him there a prisoner of War. The guns were taken out of the Brig & the prisoners were put on board of her. The officers were all carried to Halifax and I did not see said Dyer afterward until I saw him at home. I well remember that said Brig was built at Kingston about four miles from Plymouth for the Mafsachusetts Colony under the superintendance of Capt. Sampson & that Dyer was appointed Lieutenant of her on her first [Page 2, MF Frame 337] cruise which according to the best of my recollection was in the course of the year 1776.

I further declare & say that somewhere about the year 1785 that said Charles Dyer commanded a vefsel called if I recollect aright the Polly. On his return voyage from the West Indies he was ship wrecked at Bermuda & all hands perished except the mate who was the late William Sturtevant of this town who is now deceased. Capt Dyer perished with the others at that time.

The Brig Independence was brought into the Bay of Findlay a prize to the British after I had been a prisoner there about a month. I should think it about the last of December 1776. I cannot tell how long he had been cruising but it was some time. According to my best knowledge it must have been not lefs than four months from the time he sailed before he was taken & it might have been six months. Capt. Dyer was carried to Halifax & detained there as a prisoner & it is my imprefsion [Page 3, MF Frame 338] that he did not get home till the June following. I got home in March & I know he did not get home until a considerable time after. In attempting to convey a lot of prisoners of whom I was one to Halifax in the Independence we were blown off toward the West Indies & were recaptured by an American privateer & thus were enabled to get clear of any further imprisonment & got home before the prisoners who went to Halifax

William Wefton

Plymouth J. August 10.1836 Then the above named William Weston personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, Before me & I do hereby certify that he is a credible person

Jacob H Loud

Jus. Peace

[MF Frame 339]

I Barnabas Otis of Plymouth in the county of Plymouth eighty years of Agedo testify & say that in the year 1776 I lived in Boston & had a fellow apprentice who was from Plymouth. That I recollect the Brig. Independence built at Kingston for the Colony of Mafsachusetts came to Boston to fit out for a cruise & that I went down to the wharf with my fellow apprentice & that I then knew Capt Sampson her commander & saw Charles Dyer about the said vefel & he appeared to be exercising some authority & I had the imprefsion at the time that he was an Officer but I do not now recollect that I had any positive knowledge of that fact at the time. A few years after I married in Plymouth & subsequently came here to reside.

Barnabas Otis

Plymouth. Aug 20. 1836 The the above named Baranabas Otis personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me & I do hereby certify that he is a credible person

Jacob H Loud

Jus Peace

[MF Frame 340]

I Joseph Thomas of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth 81 years on oath declare & say that in early life I well knew Bethiah Cotton, daughter of Col. Theophilus Cotton of said Plymouth, who was married to Charles Dyer of said Plymouth before the War of the Revolution, that I have known her ever since having for the greater portion of my life lived in her immediate neighborhood, that her husband who was an Officer in the Navy of the Revolution died many years ago, having been lost at Sea & that he left the said Bethiah his Widow, that she never married & is now the widow of said Charles & living in said Plymouth & is the same person now an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congrefs July 4.1836.

Joseph Thomas

Plymouth J. August 20.1836 Then the above named Joseph Thomas personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed before me & I certify that he is a credible person

Jacob H Loud

Jus. Peace

Joseph Thomas

[Page 1, MF Frame 341]

Hon J.L. Edwards Plymouth Jan 16.1837

Sir

I red’d through the Hon. Mr. Adams your Report on the case of Mrs. Bethiah Dyer made to the Secretary of War. The papers of Mrs. D. had so long remained without any intelligence that I could not pacify the friends of Mrs. D. without asking the attention of Mr. Adams. I have the honor to send you my views of Mrs. Dyers claim & of the evidence in support of each term. While the subject shall be fresh in your recollection may I ask you --- to give it an examination so as to have a decision as soon as practicable. I send you herewith Dr. Thachers History of Plymouth. I send it as evidence to show the public character of the Brig Independence. It may afford you some gratification aside from this as being the history of the oldest town in New England. For Dr. Thatcher’s standing as a historian I refer you to Hon. Daniel Webster, Hon J. Q. Adams & Hon. John Reed. As to the standing & as to the authority to be given to the statement of Isaac Goodwin Esq I refer you to Hon. John Davis of Mafs. who was [Page 2, MF Frame 342] a member of the same Bar & townsman.

Dr. Thatcher has informed me that there is in the library of the Pilgrim Society a file of old Newspapers & in one of the papers published in the Revolution is an account of the battle between this Brig Independence Capt Sampson & the British vefsel commanded by Dawson & from that he obtained a portion of the facts in his History. He further says that for the bravery displayed by Sampson in the Brig soon after his return he was appointed to command the Hazard.

There is no more question that the Independence was a States Vefsel, than of numerous others which have been proved by similar evidence to have been such.

I hope not to tire your patience beyond endurance but so confident am I on this subject that I feel I should fail in my duty to Mrs. D. did I not prefs this case strongly on your consideration.

May I hear from you soon.

With great respect

I am -- your obt. S.

J. H. Loud