Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39855, for Anthony Spencer, Massachusetts
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Navy (Mass or RI)
CONTENTS
Spencer, Anthony
NUMBER
S. 39855
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No 19.299-
Rhode Island
Anthony Spencer,
East Greenwich in the State of R. Island
who was a Marine on board the "Dean" Frigate
commanded
by Captain Nicholson,
(Mass) in the U. S. Navy
for the term of 1 Yr. & 3 Mos. from 1781.
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 29th of May 1824
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th of July 1824
and sent to Nathan Whiting Esq.
East Greenwich, R. I.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1824.   $25.83
3 Mos. 3/31 4/30         
$25.83.
{Revolutionary claim,
Acts March 18, 1818,
and May 1, 1820 &
1 March 1824.}
East Greenwich -
Kent Co
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March 25th 36, See let to
Honble Tristam Burgess retg
his informal appn. for new
certif. -
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This will certify that Anthony Spencer of
East Greenwich State of Rhode Island Did Enter
on board the Dean Frigate of the United States Samuel
Nicholson Esq. command as a Marine under Capt.
Palmer Commander of that corps November 4. 1781 by my [illegible] being an active man
past Sailor become an Ordinary Seaman did duty
as such He remained on board during the command
of Captain Nicholson to September 25th 1782 at that time
the Frigate was called the Hague John Manley
was ordered to command her. The said Anthony Spencer
continued on board untill December 25th 1782 on that
day we Captured the Ship Bell of 24 year guns, he was ordered
onboard her and arrived safe in America February 11
1783 from under St Lucia West Indies was Discharge
Anthony Spencer served his country faithfully
fifteen Month, became an Expect sailer requires the
assistance of his Country for Support now aged 62
infirm with poverty
Benjamin Page First
Lieutenant of the Dean
after the Hague Frigate
Portsmouth R Island
May 17th 1824

Newport ss - Newport Rhode Island
May 17th. 1824
Subscribed and sworn to before
Benjamin B Mumford

I certify that Benjamin Page the above deponent is a man
of respectability and that his testimony is entitled to full
faith and credit in & out of Court. [illegible]
Benjamin T Mumford
Justice Peace
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport,
17th May AD. 1824:
I hereby certify that Benjamin P Mumford
whose signature, in his own proper hand writing is affixed
to the within attestation is a Justice of the Peace for the
Town of Newport in the County aforesaid, duly commissioned
under the Seal of said State, and otherwise qualified as
such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the Seal of said Court the day and
year above written.
Henry Cranston Clk
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Copy of Record &
Certificate
Anthony Spencer
Marine -
Capt. Nicholson -
Dean Frigate
(afterwards, the Hague.)
Served from Novr 4th 1781,
till 4th Feby 1783 -
1 yr. 3 mos.
Admitted
the
29 "
Comm: of Pens: 29th May,
1824 -
-
"Nathan Whiting Esqr
East Greenwich
R. I."
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District of Rhode Island
Kent Sc. At a special Court of Common
Pleas holden at East Greenwich in the County 
of Kent in said District on the Twenty ninth
day of May AD 1824.
On this twenty ninth day of May AD 1824
personally appeared in open Court being a
Court of Record for said County of Kent in
said District of Anthony Spencer of East Greenwich
in said County aged sixty two years & one month
who being first duly sworn according to Law,
doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made
by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818
of the 1st May 1820. That he the said
Anthony Spencer enlisted at Boston in the
early part of November AD 1781 for the Term
of one year in the Naval Service of the
United States under Capt Palmer as a Marine
on board of the Dean Frigate, Capt Samuel
Nicholson Commander, that he served on
board of said Frigate in the capacity of a
mariner in August & September 1782-
That Capt Nicholson was broke or removed
from the command of said Frigate and Capt
Manly took the command of her and
she then was called the Hague, That he continued to serve on board said Frigate untill
December AD 1782 when he was ordered
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ordered on board the prize ship Bell captured
by the Hague and arrived in the said prize
Ship at the port of Boston where he received
his discharge of Capt Manly ---
And in pursuance of the Act of the first
of May 1820 I do solemnly swear, that I
was a resident Citizen of the United States
on the 18th day of March, One Thousand
Eight Hundred & Eighteen, & that I have not
since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner
disposed of any property, or any part thereof
with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring
myself within the provisions of an act of
Congress entitled An Act to provide for certain
persons engaged in the land or naval service
of the United States in the Revolutionary War
passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and
that I have not, nor has any person in trust
for me any property or securities contracts
or debt due to me nor have I any property
or income whatever except wearing apparel.
That my occupation is that of a Laborer
but owing to my age & bodily infirmity
am not able to support myself & during the
last winter & Spring was supported at
the expence of my Friends & of the Town of
East Greenwich and am now dependant on
the charity of others for support
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This Applicant further declares that he
made an application for a pension according to law on the 22d day of May AD 1820
but that his application was not forwarded
to the seat of Government, he not knowing
at that time, nor untill lately of but one
person living who served with him on board
said Frigate namely P Medard by whom
he could prove the service before stated. And
that it was after much enquiry that he
ascertained the fact of the survivorship
and place of residence of Capt P. Page
who was the first Lieutenant of said Frigate and whose testimony he has now procured
Anthony Spencer
The above was sworn to in open Court, and
the property of the applicant was valued at nothing
Kent ss.
Court of Common Pleas
Clerks Office.
I certify that the aforegoing is a
true copy taken from the records
& files of this office at East Greenwich
this Twenty Ninth day of May AD 1824
Witness my hand & seal of office
John Brown Clk
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Declaration
of Anthony Spencer
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United Sates of America
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Kent Ss.
To Thomas Sweet Esquire one of the Justices of the
Court of Common Pleas for said County of Kent
I, Anthony Spencer of East Greenwich in the
County of Kent and State aforesaid, on solemn oath
do declare and say,
that in the month of November
in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty one
I enlisted as a marine in the line of the United States
under Captain Palmer, to serve on board the United
Ship Dean, then commanded by Captain Nicholson
That I served under Capt. Nicholson as a Mariner on board said ship
(although Enlisted as a marine) until August 1782,
when said Nicholson was tried by a Court Martial
and the command of the ship was given to Captain
Manley, her name being then altered to the
Hague- that I served on board said ship under
said Manley until the month of December 1782, or
January 1783, when I was put on board the prize
ship Bell and sent into Boston. That in the month
of December 1783. I received of Captain Manley then
in Boston my discharge; but the discharge which
was then given to me is lost or destroyed by time or
accident - That the particular service in which the
said ship was employed while I was on board of her
was in cruising against the common enemy, chiefly among
the West India Islands - that I was in no engagement
except the one which resulted in the Capture of the
said ship Bell, which ship fired one broad side before
she stunk-
Being a resident citizen of the
United States, having served in the manner and
for the term aforesaid, against the common enemy
and from my situation and circumstances in life
being in need of assistance from my country for support,
I make this application, for the provision made
by the act entitled "an act to provide for certain
persons engaged in the land and Naval service of
the United States in the Revolutionary War"
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passed March 18th AD 1818-
Sworn this 22 day of
May AD 1820. Before me}
Anthony Spencer
U.S. of America
State of Rhode Island &c
Kent 
I Thomas Sweet one of the Justices of
the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Kent 
do hereby certify that the paper hereunto annexed
by me signed was presented to me and the facts therein contained sworn to by the above named
Anthony Spencer, on the twenty sixth day of January
AD 1820.- And I do further certify that on the
22 day of May AD 1820. the within named
Anthony Spencer personally appeared before me and
was duly sworn to the truth of the facts set forth
in the above and foregoing declaration by
him subscribed - Witness my hand this 22
day of May AD 1820-
Thomas Sweet J.C.C. Pleas

The State of Rhode Island & Providence
Plantations.-
Kent -
I certify that Thomas Sweet Esquire
the preceding subscriber is a Justice of the
Court of Common Pleas for said County
duly authorised and qualified, and that the 
pending attestation by him subscribed is
in due form agreeable to the Laws and
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Usages of said State and unto his attestation full
Credit ought to be given throughout said State &
elsewhere -
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand & affixed the Seal of said court
this 2d day of June AD 1820 -
Jno Mawney Clk
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the declaration was made
January the 26 day 1820
May 1820
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Listed in Boston November 1781 for one year in
the Naval service of the United States under Capt
Parmer as a marian in the Ship Deen Captain
Nickelson Commander of the Ship Served as a mariner
in August 1782 Captain Nickelson was Back By
Court martial and Captain Manley took the
Command of the ship and altered his name and
call his the hauge and under Captain Manley
I served in December of or January
1783 I was put on board the prise ship Bell
and the prise were sent in to Boston so I served
my time out and in December 1783 I got my
discharge of Captain Manley in Boston
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O. W. & N. Division.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., April 24, 1825.
F. S.     M. E. C.
Sir:-
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history
of ---Anthony Spencer -- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his
widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH
OF SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
STATE
In November, 1781, he enlisted as a marine on the frigate
"Dean" and served in this capacity under the command of Captains
Nicholson and Manley until December, 1782, when he was placed on
board the prize ship "Bell" and assisted in taking her into the
port of Boston; received his discharge from Capt. Manley in
December, 1783.
Battles engaged in,   The capture of the "Bell".
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Probably, Boston, Mass.
Date of application for pension,  East Greenwich, R. I.
Residence at date of application, May 22, 1820.
Age at date of application, Fifty-eight years.
Remarks:
Very respectfully,
A. Waterman Brown, Esq.,
236 Dodge St.,
Providence, R. I.
Commissioner.
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United States -
Massachusetts District -
Peter S Medard certify and make known that I
was surgeon of the United States Ship of war Dean for
a number of years during the revolutionary war and particularly
in the years 1782 and 1783. I have [illegible]
with Anthony Spencer of Rhode Island, who served
as a marine in the marine corps on board said
ship in said years, and from his statements have
not the least doubt that he faithfully served on board
said ship in the manner and for the time which
he has represented in his application for a pension.
P. S. Medard
Surg. U. S. Navy

Suffolk Boston April 27th 1821
Signed by, Dr S Medard in presence of Stephen Hooper Jus. Peace.

Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I hereby certify that Stephen Hooper Esquire
whose signature as above subscribed is a Justice
of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, qualified
according to Law to take depositions & that full faith
and credit are to be given to his attestations as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal
of the Supreme Judicial Court this thirteenth day of
May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty four
Jno Caunder clk Sup 
Jud: Court Com pleas
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Honl. J.C. Calhoun Secy at War
Washington City

Elhunwin
R.I. June 1

19.298.
Anthony Spencer
Kent Co. R.I.
Nathan Whiting
East Greenwich RI.
7 June 1824
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East Greenwich May 31st 1824
Sir,
I have the honour to forward you the enclosed papers
for your inspection and decision. The present applicant is truly an object of charity and is, as I conceive,
entitled under the Laws of Congress ,to a pension. Were
my impressions different I should not have troubled you
with his papers. One reason (which it was not proper
for him to state) may be added to that assigned by him
in his declaration for not pursuing his claim more
zealously, is that he has labored under a
partial mental derangement-- It is hoped that
he will be placed on the list of Pensioners from
the period of his first application.
I am Sir with great esteem, your
most obedt. Humb. Servant
Nathan Whiting Agt agt. for the Applct
Hon. J. C. Calhoun Esq. 
Secy at War
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Apr 24/93 Mil, Hist. to
A. Waterman Brown, 23 Dodge
St. Providence, R.I.

Invalid
File No. 39855 Navy
Anthony Spencer
Marine
Frigate "Dean"
Revolutionary
Act March 18. 1818.
Index: Vol  , Page
[Arrangement of 1870.]