Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21752, for John Manchester, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Manchester, John
Mary
NUMBER
W 21752
CONTENTS
Page 2

Rhode Island 825
Mary Manchester
widow of John Manchester
R.I.
who died on the 29 May 1827
of Newport Co. in the State of R. Island
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Durfee
of the [blank] commanded
by [blank]
in the R. Island mil.
line[crossed out] for 9 months
 
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of May
1837 and sent to John Cross
Esqr Portsmouth R.I.

Arrears to the 4th of March '37 180.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep.
15.00
$195.00

   Revolutionary Claim,  
⎨ Act July 4, 1836,            ⎬
   Section the 3

Recorded by D. Brown  Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 1   Page 111
Date of death
of in
D
Page 3

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 18[rest cut off]
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport  Ss
On this third day of October A.D. 1836
Personally appeared before the Court of Probate of Tiverton, in the County
of Newport, a court of record, Mary Manchester, a resident of said
Tiverton in the County of Newport, and State of Rhode Island, aged
Seventy Eight 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 4th 1836 -

That she is the widow of John Manchester late of
Tiverton, and late a revolutionary soldier, in the 2d or Middle Company
of Militia of said Town- We were  both born and always lived in
this town and not elsewhere. I was acquainted with him from
my youth and long before the revolutionary war, and will 
remember his services in said war, as a soldier, before and after our
Marriage. We were married during said war. After our marriage
We first went to Keeping house, Just above, and near to the Still house
landing, in said town, in the Shearman House, the lower part of which
house, at that time were occupied, by a number of Shoe makers
who were making shoes for the Army. The Enemy had at this time
evocuated Rhode Island. Sometime after we moved to said house
a Company were quartered at said stills near our house, for a short
time, but for what purpose I do not remember_ at the time the 
enemy came to Rhode Island in December 1776_ the soldiers of sd company
to which he belonged, were called into the public service to guard
the shores of said Town, from Fall River to Fogland ferry, at the guard
posts on the shores, and my husband went into said service and
continued therein until the enemy left R Island in November, 1779.
This service was performed by monthly turns each man had to
be in the service for half of the time, every alternate month on his
own account - I further believe my said husband was on Rhode Island
as a soldier, before the enemy came to Newport aforesaid, sometime in
the year 1775 or 1776, I cannot remember with certainty, I think I have heard
my husband in his life time, tell about his service at Newport, where
Wallace was in the Bay. All his aforesaid services were performed under the
officers of said militia company namely Capt. Benjamin Durfee, Capt.
Benjamin Borden, and one Davol  and the late Benjamin Howland, once
a Senator in Congress were also officers in said Company during the war
it belonged to the Regiment of Col. John Cook_ During the time aforesaid
my said husband was on Rhode Island in Sullivans Expedition in 1778
and was in the Battle there_ during the period mentioned from Dec. 1776
to Novr, 1779. I declare that my said husband was in the public service
as a private soldier, not less than seventeen months, at the places, and
in the manner aforesaid, After our marrige I well remember that
my sd husband was twice at least away, as a soldier, on to Rhode
Island for one month at a time, once I think in the summer
Page 4

of 1781 and once in the summer of 1782, but I cannot tell the
officers he was under, nor the particular months. my husband
left no written memorandum in relation thereto, nor have
I any documentary evidence thereof_ He never drew a
pension-

And I further declare that I was married to the
said John Manchester on the 8th day of September. Seventeen
hundred and Eighty (1780). That my husband, the said John 
Manchester, died on the 29th day of May A.D. 1827, and that I have
remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully
appear by reference to the proofs hereto annexed.
         her
Mary   X   Manchester
         mark

Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year before written, before and in
open Court_
Asa Gray, Clerk of Prob. Court

And the Court further certify that said Mary Manchester is
a credible person, and that they believe the statements herein made
are true_ And that said Mary is the widow of said John 
Manchester late of this town deceased. never having married since the
death of her said husband_

And the Court further certify that said Mary has
presented to them in open Court the private journal of the
late Elder Peleg Burroughs a Minister of the Gospel of this
town, legally qualified to join Persons in matrimony, and
that in said journal on the 8th day of September A.D. 1780
is found the following entry, namely_
"Preached at B. Hambly's
upon Psalm 107.31. To that men would praise &c)
married John Manchester to M. F. and stayed all night
at Bro~ Davenports"    And said Court believe that
said jJournal, is the genuine journal of said Elder Peleg
Burroughs in his own proper hand writing _ And that said
John Manchester therein named is the same John Manchester
named in the foregoing Declaration. And that said M.F. is
the present Mary Manchester aforesaid, the widow of said
John_ and that her maiden name was Mary Fish.
I Asa Gray, Clerk, of the Court of Probate of the town of
Tiverton in the County of Newport in the State of Rhode
Island, a Court of Record, do hereby certify that the afore
going contains the original proceedings before said Court
in the matter of the application of Mary Manchester for a
Pension.     In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of said
Court this third day of October in the
Year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirty Six.
And of American Independence
the sixty first
Asa Gray, Clerk of 
of Probate }
Page 5

1932, June 29-Hist
to Elbert E Boyd
See correspondence 
in case John
Manchester S5055
EEL
1932 - Aug 29, in-Ad.
Elbert E. Boyd
no other John
Manchester in files
other than the
ones furnished
him on June 29,1952
See care in case
John Manchester
S5055- EEL
---
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
onr
File No.
21752
Mary Manchester
Wid of
John Manchester 
Priv Rev. War

Act: July 4th /36
Index:-- Vol. M   ,Page 10
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 6

I Abner Simmons of Tiverton in the County of Newport &
State of Rhode Island, Esquire, of lawful age, being duly sworn, on
my oath, Declare. That I was well acquainted with John
Manchester of this town, decd who during the revolutionary war
was a militia soldier. In the summer or fall of 1781 there was a
draft to go to Newport for one month. I was drafted for a month
from the company to which I belonged, viz. the first company
of Militia in Tiverton - said John Manchester, was also
in the same company for one month at least said company at
Newport was made up of a few men from several companies of Militia
and when they got to Newport were put into and formed the company
we were quartered in Newport, just North of the jail_ Capt Peleg
Simmons was the Capt of sd company at that time_

I know the said Mary Manchester, widow of said John
who is now an applicant for a pension, and state that she has never
married since the decease of said John Manchester_
Abner Simmons

State of Rhode Island,
County of Newport     ⎬Ss
Be it known, that on the third day of October 1831
before the Court of Probate of the town of Tiverton, in
said County of Newport, non sitting, personally 
appeared, Abner Simmons a credible witness, and
subscribed his above Deposition and was duly
Sworn to the truth of the same
Asa Gray, Clerk of 
Prob. Court            ⎬
Page 7

Town Clerk's Office, Tiverton October 1. 1836
I hereby certify that upon a careful search of the
Records of Marriages in this Office, I am unable
to find the marriage of John Manchester and
Mary Manchester on Record
Asa Gray Town Clerk
Page 8

I Peleg Hambly of Portsmouth in the County of
Newport and State of Rhode Island of lawful
age, being duly sworn, declare_ That I was
well acquainted from my youth, with the
late John Manchester of Tiverton_ During the
Revolutionary we both belonged to the same Militia
Company of Tiverton, it was the 2d or Middle Company
     When the British came to Newport in December
1776 the militia of this company were called out to
stand guard, at the guard posts on the shores. I attest 
time lived with my father the late Benjamin Hambly
Esq. of said Tiverton. at the time the Enemy first come, I was
not old enough to go in, on my own account, but I stood
guard a number of monthly tours for my said father
before, I was old enough to stand guard on my own account.
     The said John Manchester was our near neighbor
he was by trade a shoemaker_ I know that he was in
the public service, during the time the British were
on Rhode Island standing guard on the shores in the public
service_ I have seen him, in the service, and been with him
in the service. I remember one in relieving guard, near
Bordens Boat House, on sd shore. the sd John was found asleep, but
he was a good soldier generally_ I cannot at this remote period say
how long he was in the service. I know he was in sd service a
number of tours of a month at a time, and have not
the least doubt, but that he was in sd service for full
half the time the Enemy occupied Rhode Island.
     I am also well acquainted with the Mary
Manchester of said Tiverton, the widow of said John. she is now
an applicant for a pension_ she has never married since
her sd husbands death.- I removed from Tiverton a great number
of years ago- to the form on which I now live_ I believe it was in
the year 1796 that I removed.
Peleg Hambly

State of Rhode Island 
County of Newport       Ss

But known, That on the 12th day of December A.D. 1836, before the
Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County
of Newport. Personally came the above named Peleg Hembly, and
was duly sworn to the foregoing deposition, and subscribed the
same_ I further certify that said Peleg Hambly is to me personally
and well known, and is a credible witness.
John Cross. Jus. Peace
Page 9

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerk's Office of the Court of Probate of the town of Tiverton
in the County of Newport and State aforesaid
I Asa Gray Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid
a Court of Record do hereby certify that Asa Gray
is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County
of Newport duly appointed, Commissioned and sworn
and fully authorized to act in his said capacity, and
that the signature of his name to the certificates on
the annexed Deposition of Elihu Gifford is his genuine
Signature
I further certify that John Cross
is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County
of Newport, duly appointed, Commissioned and sworn
and fully authorized to act in his said capacity.
and that the signature of his name to the certificate
on the annexed Deposition of Peleg
Hambly is his
genuine signature - In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed
the Seal of said Court this
twentieth day of December
in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred & thirty six
And of American Independence
the Sixty first-
Asa Gray, Clerk
Page 10

987
Mary Manchester
widow of John
R. Island
Married in 1780
-
on Capt Simmons roll
for act. 81.

$30 per ann.
send cert: to John Cross of
Portsmouth
R. Island
Page 11

I Elihu Gifford of Tiverton in the County of Newport
and State of Rhode Island, of lawful age being sworn according to
Law, do on my oath, declare- That I was well acquainted
from my earliest recollections with the late John Manchester
of this town, whose widow Mary Manchester also of this
town as now an applicant for a pension= I remember said
John was married to his present widow said Mary some time
during the Revolutionary war- but I cannot tell the year
I knew her also before they were married. her maiden name
was Mary Fish. They went to keeping house, just above the
Still house Landing in this town after they were married-
I did not see them married_ but I entertain no doubt of
of the fact. They always lived together as man & wife- and had a
Number of Children. I never heard it mentioned by any one that
they were not legally married, and I believe that they were
as much as I believe my nearest neighbors, whom I did not
see married, were properly married-
     During the Revolutionary war we belonged to the
same militia company in this town- the 2d or middle
Company. And After the British came to Rhode Island in Dec. 7176
our company were called in to the public services to stand guard on
the shores, every man had to go for one half of the time, every other
month, for one month at a time, and when there was an
alarm, all had to go- I have been with said John at that
time, in said Service several times, and seen him in sd service
when I was not with him- we were generally under the officer
of our own company, some one of them- I have been with said John
at Howlands ferry, and fogland ferry, and at Anthonys Landing, and
further north at the sails, which were guard Posts- we were together
on Rhode Island in Sullivans Expedition on Rhode Island in
August, 1778. we were then under Capt. Benjamin Borden, the capt of
our company of Militia. I cannot say positively how many
months sd John served in the public service while the British
were on Rhode Island from Dec. 1776 to November 1779, but from
my best recollections and belief. I think he served not less
than eighteen months - he was a good soldier, and always ready
to do his duty-- he was a shoemaker by trade
Elihu Gifford
State of Rhode Island
     County of Newport } ss. Be it known, that
on the twentieth day of December 1836. before the
Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said
County of Newport, personally appeared Elihu Gifford and
subscribed his above Deposition and made oath to the
truth of the same, and I further certify that said Deponent
is a credible person, before me, Asa Gray Justice Peace