In This Article
His Story
In April 1818, Mark Pearson appeared before a Massachusetts court in Kennebec County, then part of the District of Maine, to recount his service in the American Revolution. He was approximately seventy years old and had been separated from the Continental Army for more than four decades. His surviving pension declaration describes a year of military service that began in January 1776 and ended at Mount Independence, where illness had confined him to a military hospital.
Pearson was born in Rowley, Massachusetts, and entered the Continental establishment on January 1, 1776. He enlisted for one year in Captain Titcomb’s company of Colonel Enoch Poor’s New Hampshire regiment. His service placed him among the Continental soldiers assigned to the northern military theater during a critical period of the Revolution.
In 1776, the American army faced the possibility of a British invasion from Canada. British forces had driven the Americans from their positions around Quebec and were advancing toward Lake Champlain. The Americans attempted to preserve their defenses along the lake and prevent British forces from moving south toward the Hudson River.
Mount Independence, situated on the eastern side of Lake Champlain opposite Fort Ticonderoga, became an important American military position. Soldiers constructed defensive works, roads, barracks, and other facilities intended to protect the passage between the lake and the interior colonies.
Pearson’s service ended differently from that of many soldiers whose pension accounts centered on a battlefield. According to his own declaration, he remained with his regiment until late October 1776, when he became ill and entered the hospital at Mount Independence.
He remained there in poor health until the expiration of his enlistment and reported receiving a verbal and honorable discharge on January 1, 1777.
His account received support from Arnold Glidden, another veteran who testified that he had served in the same company and regiment. Glidden remembered Pearson’s presence in the army and confirmed that he had left him in the hospital during the autumn of 1776.
Following the Revolution, Pearson settled in Pittston, in the Kennebec River region of Maine. He worked as a laborer, but advancing age and physical infirmity eventually reduced his ability to support himself.
By 1820, Pearson and his wife, Sarah, were living in circumstances of considerable poverty. His property inventory listed a log hut valued at twenty-five dollars, a pig, an axe, an old hoe, and a small quantity of household possessions. Sarah, then approximately seventy-one years old, suffered from severe rheumatism and was unable to perform ordinary labor.
The federal pension granted to Pearson provided eight dollars per month. Although modest, that allowance represented an important source of income for a household whose resources had become severely limited.
Mark Pearson’s surviving records illustrate two connected experiences of the Revolutionary generation: the physical hardships endured by ordinary Continental soldiers and the economic vulnerability many veterans faced in old age. His story also demonstrates that military service was not defined exclusively by participation in famous battles. Disease, exposure, inadequate medical care, and the demands of garrison duty were central realities of the Revolutionary War.
Early Life
Birth in Rowley, Massachusetts
Mark Pearson identified Rowley, Massachusetts, as his birthplace in his April 24, 1818, pension declaration. At that time, he reported being seventy years old. In June 1820, he gave his age as seventy-two. Both statements suggest that he was born approximately 1747 or 1748.
A published Pearson family genealogy gives his birth date as February 23, 1747/48. This date is consistent with his reported ages, although the original town birth record should be consulted to confirm it.
Rowley was an established Massachusetts community whose colonial economy rested primarily upon agriculture, local trades, and connections with the commercial settlements of Essex County.
Families in the region participated in a society shaped by congregational churches, town meetings, property ownership, and local militia obligations.
His Reported Parents
Published family genealogy identifies Mark Pearson as a son of Jonathan Pearson and Sarah Longfellow. The pension declarations examined for this biography do not independently name his parents.
Accordingly, these relationships should be treated as genealogical identifications pending verification through Rowley vital records, probate documents, or contemporary family records.
Coming of Age Before Independence
Pearson grew up during a period of expanding tension between Britain’s North American colonies and the imperial government.
Following the French and Indian War, Parliament imposed new taxes and regulations that provoked resistance in Massachusetts. The Stamp Act crisis, disputes over customs enforcement, the Boston Massacre, and the destruction of East India Company tea in Boston contributed to a widening political conflict.
By April 1775, fighting at Lexington and Concord had transformed that conflict into open war.
Pearson’s own documented Continental service began the following January, when American military leaders were reorganizing their forces for a prolonged struggle.
Revolutionary War Service
Enlistment on January 1, 1776
Mark Pearson stated that he enlisted in the Continental establishment on January 1, 1776, for a term of one year.
He identified his commanding officers as Captain Titcomb and Colonel Poor, and he described his unit as belonging to the New Hampshire Line.
Colonel Enoch Poor commanded a New Hampshire regiment during the Revolution and became an important officer in the Continental Army. His regiment participated in the northern theater, where American forces attempted to prevent a British advance from Canada.
Pearson’s pension declaration is direct evidence of his claimed service. It identifies his enlistment date, company, regiment, duration of service, and the circumstances of his discharge.
The Northern Department in 1776
During 1776, the northern frontier became one of the most strategically important regions of the Revolutionary War.
American forces had attempted to invade Canada in 1775, hoping to remove British military power from the province and secure support for the revolutionary cause. The campaign failed, and American troops retreated southward during the spring and summer of 1776.
British forces under General Guy Carleton sought to exploit the American retreat and gain control of the Lake Champlain corridor.
The lake formed a potential invasion route from Canada toward the Hudson River. British control of that passage threatened communications between New England and the other American states.
American troops therefore concentrated around Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, where they worked to strengthen the defenses.
Service Near Mount Independence
Mount Independence stood on the eastern side of Lake Champlain, across from Fort Ticonderoga. Together, the two positions guarded an important water passage between Canada and the interior of New York.
American forces developed Mount Independence as a fortified military complex. The work required extensive labor, including the construction of earthworks, roads, barracks, and defensive positions.
Pearson’s pension declaration confirms his presence at Mount Independence during the closing months of 1776. It does not identify every duty he performed before entering the hospital.
He should therefore be described as serving in the northern theater and at Mount Independence rather than being assigned to specific engineering projects or battles without additional evidence.
Illness in October 1776
According to Pearson’s declaration, he remained in active service until late October 1776, when illness forced him to enter the military hospital at Mount Independence.
He described his condition as poor and stated that he remained hospitalized until his enlistment expired.
His illness was not an isolated feature of Revolutionary War military life. Disease caused enormous suffering among Continental troops, especially in crowded camps and military hospitals where sanitation, food supplies, and medical resources were limited.
Exposure to cold weather and inadequate shelter further complicated the health of soldiers serving in the northern theater.
The pension documents do not identify Pearson’s particular disease or medical diagnosis.
Honorable Discharge
Pearson stated that he received a verbal and honorable discharge from the army at Mount Independence on January 1, 1777.
He described this as the conclusion of his Continental military service.
The absence of a surviving written discharge made his later testimony especially important. His pension application relied upon his recollections and the supporting statement of a fellow veteran.
Arnold Glidden’s Testimony
Arnold Glidden of Pittston submitted an affidavit supporting Pearson’s declaration.
Glidden reported that he had served in the same company and regiment and personally knew Pearson during their military service.
He confirmed approximately ten months of Pearson’s service from personal knowledge and expressed confidence that Pearson had completed the remainder of his enlistment.
Glidden also recalled leaving Pearson in the hospital near the end of October 1776.
His statement is especially valuable because it corroborates the circumstances of Pearson’s illness and provides testimony from another participant in the same military unit.
Battles and Campaigns
The Northern Campaign of 1776
1776 — Northern New York and Lake Champlain region
The American military position in the northern theater deteriorated after the unsuccessful invasion of Canada.
As Continental forces retreated, British commanders prepared to advance along the Lake Champlain corridor. American leaders attempted to delay the British and preserve their defenses around Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.
Pearson’s service in Colonel Poor’s New Hampshire regiment places him within the military establishment supporting the northern campaign.
His pension declaration establishes his service through October 1776 and his subsequent hospitalization at Mount Independence.
Participation classification: Northern theater service supported by his pension declaration; individual battlefield movements not fully established.
The Battle of Valcour Island
October 11, 1776 — Lake Champlain, New York
In October 1776, an American fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold confronted British naval forces near Valcour Island on Lake Champlain.
The Americans suffered heavy losses, but their resistance delayed the British advance and contributed to the decision to postpone a major invasion until the following year.
The battle was fought on the lake while American land forces maintained defensive positions farther south.
Pearson’s regiment served in the northern theater during this period, but his pension records do not state that he personally participated in the naval engagement.
Participation classification: Historical campaign context only. No verified individual participation in the battle.
Mount Independence and the Defense of Lake Champlain
Autumn 1776 — Present-day Orwell, Vermont
Mount Independence was a major defensive position opposite Fort Ticonderoga.
Its military importance derived from its position overlooking the lake and its role in protecting the American defensive line against a British advance from Canada.
Pearson’s pension declaration specifically identifies Mount Independence as the location of his hospitalization and discharge.
Although his exact garrison duties are not recorded, his presence at the post is supported by his own sworn testimony.
Participation classification: Presence at Mount Independence documented by pension testimony; specific military duties not established.
Military Honors and Recognition
Continental Army Service
Mark Pearson served as a private in the New Hampshire Line of the Continental Army during 1776.
His service is documented through his sworn pension declaration and the supporting affidavit of Arnold Glidden.
Federal Pension Recognition
In 1818, Pearson applied for a federal pension under legislation enacted to assist qualifying Revolutionary War veterans in reduced circumstances.
His claim was approved, and he received pension certificate number 6904.
The pension was established at eight dollars per month, beginning April 24, 1818.
Military Decorations
No individual military decoration, battlefield commendation, or officer’s commission has been established for Pearson.
His federal pension represented official recognition of his qualifying Continental service.
Original Military Records
Mark Pearson’s principal surviving military evidence appears in Revolutionary War pension file S.36731.
April 24, 1818 — Original Pension Declaration
Pearson appeared before Nathan Weston Jr., Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the Second Eastern Circuit.
He identified Rowley, Massachusetts, as his birthplace and Pittston, Maine, as his residence.
He stated that he had enlisted January 1, 1776, under Captain Titcomb and Colonel Poor, served until illness forced him into the hospital at Mount Independence, and received an honorable discharge January 1, 1777.
Record: Pension S.36731, image 4161639_00231.jpg.
1818 — Affidavit of Arnold Glidden
Arnold Glidden, aged sixty-three, testified that he had served with Pearson in the same company and regiment.
Glidden confirmed approximately ten months of Pearson’s service from personal knowledge and recalled leaving him in the hospital during October 1776.
He also described Pearson as a man of truthful character and stated that Pearson needed assistance because of his reduced financial circumstances.
Record: Affidavit accompanying the 1818 pension declaration.
February 15, 1819 — Pension Certificate
Pearson received certificate number 6904.
The certificate identified him as a private in Colonel Poor’s New Hampshire regiment and authorized a pension of eight dollars per month beginning April 24, 1818.
Record: Pension certificate, image 4161639_00227.jpg.
June 3, 1820 — Property and Household Declaration
Pearson appeared before Judge Nathan Weston Jr. and submitted a declaration describing his military service, household, property, debts, occupation, and financial condition.
He reported living with his wife Sarah and being unable to perform much labor because of age and infirmity.
Record: 1820 declaration, image 4161639_00235.jpg or associated file images; verify image sequence against the archival original.
Revolutionary War Pension
The Pension Act of 1818
On March 18, 1818, Congress enacted legislation providing pensions to qualifying Revolutionary War veterans who had served in the Continental military establishment and were in reduced circumstances.
Pearson submitted his declaration on April 24, 1818.
He explained that his financial circumstances had become difficult and that he needed assistance from the country he had served.
Pension Approval
Pearson’s pension was approved at eight dollars per month, effective April 24, 1818.
His pension certificate was issued February 15, 1819, under number 6904.
The surviving certificate records the New Hampshire Line and Colonel Poor’s regiment.
The 1820 Financial Examination
In 1820, Pearson submitted a further declaration as required under revised federal pension procedures.
He listed his property and income and stated that he had not transferred possessions for the purpose of qualifying for the pension.
His household inventory provides an unusually revealing picture of his economic circumstances.
Mark Pearson’s Household Property, 1820
| Possession | Reported Value |
|---|---|
| One log hut | $25.00 |
| One item, description illegible | $15.00 |
| One pig | $4.00 |
| Old household goods | Not exceeding $2.00 |
| One axe | $1.00 |
| One old hoe | $0.10 |
Note: These figures reproduce the individual valuations in the transcription. The description of the fifteen-dollar item remains illegible, and the household-goods valuation is an upper limit rather than a precise amount.
Debts and Income
Pearson reported owing approximately ten dollars and stated that he had no collectible debts due to him.
He estimated that his property produced no more than ten dollars in annual income.
His occupation was that of a laboring man, but he explained that age and infirmity prevented him from performing much physical work.
His Wife’s Health
Pearson identified his wife as Sarah, aged seventy-one.
He described her as crippled by severe rheumatism and unable to work.
The declaration makes clear that both members of the household faced serious physical limitations.
For Pearson and his wife, the federal pension represented an important source of support during the final years of their lives.
From His Account
The following excerpts come from Pearson’s pension declarations. Original spelling is preserved where practical; uncertain transcription readings should be checked against the manuscript images.
His Enlistment
“I enlisted into the Continental establishment against the common enemy during the revolutionary War the first of January 1776 for the period of one year”
Source: April 24, 1818, pension declaration.
Illness at Mount Independence
“when I was taken sick and put into the Hospital at Mount Independence”
Source: April 24, 1818, pension declaration.
His Discharge
“took my verbal and honorable discharge from the army at Mount Independence January first 1777”
Source: April 24, 1818, pension declaration.
His Occupation and Infirmity
“I am by occupation a laboring man, but from age and infirmity, am able to do but little labor.”
Source: June 3, 1820, declaration.
His Wife Sarah
“My family at home consists of myself and my wife Sarah, aged seventy one years”
Source: June 3, 1820, declaration.
Military Service Record
| Date | Service or Event | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 1776 | Enlisted for one year in Captain Titcomb’s company, Colonel Poor’s New Hampshire regiment | 1818 pension declaration |
| 1776 | Continental service in the northern theater | Pension declaration and regiment identification |
| Late October 1776 | Became ill and entered hospital at Mount Independence | 1818 declaration; Arnold Glidden affidavit |
| January 1, 1777 | Reported verbal and honorable discharge | 1818 pension declaration |
| April 24, 1818 | Applied for Revolutionary War pension | Pension S.36731 |
| February 15, 1819 | Pension certificate issued | Certificate 6904 |
| June 3, 1820 | Submitted financial and household declaration | 1820 pension record |
Later Life and Burial
Settlement in Pittston, Maine
Following his military service, Mark Pearson eventually settled in Pittston, a community along the Kennebec River in what is now Maine.
When Pearson enlisted, Maine was still part of Massachusetts. It remained so throughout the Revolutionary War and did not become a separate state until March 15, 1820.
His April 1818 declaration therefore identifies him as living in the District of Maine within Massachusetts, while his June 1820 declaration was made in the newly established State of Maine.
The two documents reflect this important political transition.
Life as a Laborer
Pearson described himself as a laboring man.
His surviving records do not identify a particular employer or establish whether he worked primarily in agriculture, construction, transportation, or another form of manual labor.
His property inventory suggests a household of limited material resources.
His Log Hut
By 1820, Pearson reported owning a log hut valued at twenty-five dollars.
The modest value of the dwelling, together with his limited household possessions, illustrates the family’s financial circumstances.
His remaining property included a pig, simple tools, and old household goods.
Sarah Pearson
His wife Sarah was seventy-one years old in 1820 and suffered from severe rheumatism.
Pearson’s description suggests that she required assistance with ordinary activities and could no longer contribute significant labor to the household.
The declaration does not identify her maiden surname or provide a marriage date.
Death and Burial
A published Pearson family genealogy reports that Mark Pearson died on January 30, 1821, in the Kennebec region of Maine.
This date has not been independently verified through the pension transcription used for this biography.
No confirmed burial place or gravestone record has been established from the sources examined.
Family History
Mark Pearson’s family history combines information from his Revolutionary War pension records with identifications reported in published genealogy. His pension file directly identifies his wife Sarah, while the reported parental relationships require verification through original Massachusetts family records.
Family Name & Heritage Pearson Explore surname origins & meaning
Meaning and Etymology
Pearson is an English patronymic surname, generally interpreted as meaning son of Piers, a medieval form of Peter.
The name developed through the use of a father’s personal name to identify his descendants.
The Pearson Name in Colonial America
Pearson families were established in New England during the colonial period.
The surname appears in Massachusetts town records, family genealogies, and other historical documents.
However, individuals sharing the surname were not necessarily members of the same family.
Mark Pearson’s Family
Published genealogy identifies Mark Pearson as a son of Jonathan Pearson and Sarah Longfellow.
His pension records independently establish his birthplace as Rowley, Massachusetts, but do not name his parents.
Research Considerations
Original Rowley birth records, marriage records, probate documents, and contemporary family papers are necessary to verify the reported ancestral line.
Surname origin is historical linguistic information, not proof of an individual’s complete ancestry.
His Parents
Identified in published Pearson genealogy as the father of Mark Pearson.
View Additional Research
Genealogical Identification
A published Pearson family genealogy identifies Jonathan Pearson as Mark Pearson’s father.
Documentary Limitations
Mark’s pension declaration does not identify his father. The relationship requires confirmation through Rowley birth records or other contemporary documents.
Identified in published genealogy as Mark Pearson’s mother.
View Additional Research
Genealogical Identification
Published genealogy names Sarah Longfellow as the mother of Mark Pearson.
Verification Needed
The original records documenting her marriage to Jonathan Pearson and her relationship to Mark should be examined before treating the lineage as fully established.
His Grandparents
The pension documents do not identify Mark Pearson’s grandparents.
No additional ancestral names are assigned here without verified genealogical evidence.
Earlier Generations
Research into the Pearson and Longfellow families of colonial Massachusetts may establish earlier generations.
Those connections should be based on original town, church, probate, and land records rather than surname similarity alone.
His Marriage
Mark Pearson identified Sarah as his wife in his 1820 pension declaration. She was seventy-one years old and suffered from severe rheumatism.
View Additional Research
Direct Documentary Evidence
Pearson’s June 3, 1820, declaration identifies his wife Sarah as a member of his household.
Health and Circumstances
He described her as severely affected by rheumatism and unable to work.
Marriage Research
Her maiden surname, marriage date, marriage location, and death date have not been established from the pension transcription.
His Children
Mark Pearson’s 1820 declaration identifies only himself and his wife Sarah as members of their household.
This does not establish that the couple had no children. Adult children may have been living independently by 1820.
No individual child has been verified from the pension records examined, and no names are invented for this directory.
His Siblings
No brothers or sisters have been established from the pension declarations.
Published Pearson family genealogies and Rowley town records may provide evidence of siblings, but each proposed relationship requires verification.
Other Family and Historical Connections
A fellow soldier in Captain Titcomb’s company who supported Pearson’s pension claim.
View Additional Research
Military Association
Glidden testified that he served with Pearson in the same company and regiment during the Revolution.
Supporting Evidence
He confirmed approximately ten months of Pearson’s service and recalled Pearson’s hospitalization in October 1776.
Family Relationship
No family relationship between Glidden and Pearson has been established.
His Descendants
No descendant line has been verified from the pension records examined.
Further investigation of Pittston vital records, probate files, cemetery records, and published Pearson family genealogies may establish whether Mark and Sarah Pearson had children and surviving descendants.
Family Research Update
Mark Pearson’s birthplace, approximate birth year, and wife Sarah are supported by his sworn pension declarations.
His reported parents and precise birth and death dates come from published genealogy and should be corroborated with contemporary records.
The identification of children, siblings, and earlier ancestors remains an open research question.
Original Sources
- Mark Pearson, Revolutionary War Pension File S.36731. National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. The principal archival source for his military service and later circumstances.
- Mark Pearson, Pension Declaration, April 24, 1818. Kennebec County, District of Maine, Massachusetts. Identifies his birthplace, enlistment, company, regiment, hospitalization, and discharge. Transcribed image 4161639_00231.jpg.
- Arnold Glidden, Supporting Affidavit, April 1818. Pittston, Maine. Confirms service with Pearson in the same company and regiment and recalls Pearson’s hospitalization during October 1776. Included with the 1818 declaration.
- Mark Pearson, Pension Certificate Number 6904. Issued February 15, 1819. Records his pension of eight dollars per month beginning April 24, 1818. Transcribed image 4161639_00227.jpg.
- Mark Pearson, Declaration and Property Schedule, June 3, 1820. Kennebec County, Maine. Identifies his wife Sarah, occupation, property, debts, income, and physical limitations. Revolutionary War Pension File S.36731.
- Published Pearson Family Genealogy. Reports Mark Pearson’s birth on February 23, 1747/48, death on January 30, 1821, and parents Jonathan Pearson and Sarah Longfellow. These details require comparison with original vital records before being treated as independently verified.
- The Yost Post Revolutionary War Transcription Collection. RevWar-Transcriptions-Final. Working transcriptions of Mark Pearson’s federal pension documents, including file images associated with pension S.36731.
Historical Research Note
Primary evidence: Mark Pearson’s Revolutionary War pension file S.36731 provides the principal documentary basis for this biography.
Birth: Pearson identified Rowley, Massachusetts, as his birthplace and reported being seventy years old in 1818 and seventy-two in 1820. Published genealogy reports February 23, 1747/48.
Parents: Jonathan Pearson and Sarah Longfellow are identified in published genealogy, not in the pension declarations examined.
Enlistment: Pearson stated that he enlisted January 1, 1776, for one year in Captain Titcomb’s company of Colonel Poor’s New Hampshire regiment.
Military theater: His service was associated with the northern theater and Mount Independence. His exact battlefield assignments have not been established.
Illness: Pearson reported entering the hospital at Mount Independence during late October 1776. The specific illness is unknown.
Discharge: He reported receiving a verbal and honorable discharge on January 1, 1777.
Corroboration: Arnold Glidden testified that he served in the same company and regiment, knew Pearson in the army, and remembered his hospitalization.
Pension: Certificate number 6904 authorized eight dollars per month beginning April 24, 1818.
Residence: Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, is directly documented in his pension declarations.
Wife: Sarah Pearson, aged seventy-one in June 1820, is directly documented. Her maiden surname remains unverified.
Children: No children are identified in the pension declarations examined. Their absence from the 1820 household is not evidence that Pearson had no children.
Occupation: Pearson identified himself as a laboring man whose age and infirmity prevented him from performing much work.
Property: His 1820 inventory includes a log hut valued at twenty-five dollars, an unidentified fifteen-dollar item, a pig, household goods, an axe, and an old hoe.
Death: Published genealogy reports January 30, 1821. The death date has not been independently established from the pension transcription.
Burial: No confirmed burial site has been identified.
Portrait: The accompanying image is an artistic reconstruction of Mark Pearson as a Revolutionary War soldier. It is not an authenticated contemporary likeness.
Genealogical Research Note
The strongest evidence for Mark Pearson’s life comes from his own pension declarations and the supporting testimony of Arnold Glidden.
The records establish his military service, birthplace, later residence, wife, and economic circumstances. They also document the illness that ended his active military service.
His precise birth and death dates, parental relationships, and possible descendants require additional verification through original Massachusetts and Maine records.
The Yost Post distinguishes between sworn contemporary testimony, published genealogical identifications, and historical context. Where evidence is incomplete, uncertainty is preserved rather than replaced with unsupported conclusions.