Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23756, Benjamin Carr, R.I.
Page 1

Service: R. I. 

Carr, Benjamin
Mary

Number: W. 23756
Page 2

State of Rhode Island [illegible]
County of Kent [illegible]

On this twenty seventh day of November AD 1841 personally appeared before me Stephen Waterman one of the Justices of the court of Common Pleas within aforesaid County Mary Carr of Coventry in said County of Kent aged 76 years who being duly sworn according to law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of July 7 1838 entitled "an act granting half-pay & pensions to certain widows" viz that she is the widow of Benjamin Carr who in the time of the war of the Revolution was Benjamin Carr Jr. & who was an Ensign of a company of Militia in the town of Jamestown and served in that grade, in the year 1775
Page 3

and 1776 & she believes part of the year 1777, that his family removed from said Jamestown to North Kingstown where he continued in the service on the shores, at various places, at a place called Bissells Mills, & Quidnisset  Neck most of the time, until his removal to said Coventry as she has understood & believes that she believes he served one half of the time, that she has heard him say he served six months at said Bissells Mills, but how much service he did she must leave to those who are knowing to it to say. He removed from said North Kingstown to said Coventry in 1777 where she believes he did several tours of duty & where he lived until his death.
And she further declares that she was
Page 4

married to the said Benjamin Carr in the month of November 1788 but the day of the month she cannot remember but it was the latter part of the month she remembers she was 23 years of age when she was married. Her husband the said Benjamin Carr died February 1st 1832 & since then she has remained unmarried, she was not married to him prior to leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the year Seventeen hundred & ninety four, to wit at the time above mentioned

Mary Carr (Her mark)

Attest: Stephen Waterman
Amy L Carr

State of Rhode Island
[illegible] to at Coventry this 27th day of November 1841 personally appeared before me the above named Mary Carr and made oath to the aforegoing declaration and I further certify said Mary is a credible witness and her statement entitled to full credit also that she is too infirm to attend Court.

Stephen Waterman Justice
of the Court of Common Pleas
Page 5

I Benjamin Carr of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island do testify that Mary Carr who has signed and sworn to the proceeding declaration is my mother and the said Benjamin Carr her husband was my father. My father died February 1st. 1832 and since then my mother has remained unmarried.

(signature) Benjamin Carr

State of Rhode Island
[illegible] at Coventry this 27th day of November 1841 personally appeared before me Benjamin Carr and made oath to the aforegoing deposition by him signed and I further certify that he is a credible witness and is word may be believed.

(signature) Stephen Waterman Justice
of the Court of Common Pleas
Page 6

655
Rhode Island
Mary Car
R. I.
widow of Benjamin Carr
who was an Ensign
in the R. Island line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 60 Dollars ___ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st. day of July, 1843 and sent to B. Cowell
Providence R. I. 

[Act of March 3, 1843]
Recorded in Book A
Vol___
Page 86

(Right hand side of document reads as below)

Rev. July 1
Page 7

I, Benjamin Carr of Coventry, in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, being now in the City of Providence, on oath do testify and say that I am thirty nine years old, that Benjamin Carr, late of said Coventry, was my father, and I do further testify and say, that all the old papers hereto annexed, consisting of pay abstracts and orders, and an ensign's commission I have recently found among the old papers which my father left. The Pay-abstract, dated North Hampton February 6th, 1777, has my father's name written in figures and letters on the back, thus "B2831738C199" I distinctly remember about four years before his death, in looking over his old papers he showed me this, and then told me that he often wrote his name in that way. I believe the paper had the same appearance then, that it now has, to wit, that the name was cut off, starting under the name of "John Weedeen, Jr. Lieut." I believe the name cut off was my father's name, but when it was cut off I don't know. I have often heard my father speak of being stationed at Bissell's Mills, and of doing duty there during the War of the Revolution. I have heard him say that he was quartered at Bissell's Mills, off and on, about two years. I
Page 8

have heard him say that he and his father's family, and about all the inhabitants of James-Town were driven off of the Island by the enemy in the early part of the War. I have heard my father say that the British Landed very early one morning from Wallace's fleet and drove the women and children out of their houses, that the women hadn't time to put on their clothes, that he say some of them were running with their clothes under one arm, and a child under the other.  My father died nearly ten years ago, since then, my mother has remained a widow.

(signature) Benjamin Carr

Providence Jc} In Providence, on the sixth day of December, A.D. 1841, personally appeared Benjamin Carr, subscriber to the aforegoing,  and made solemn oath of the truth of the same, and I do certify that said Carr is a credible witness. 
Before me, 
(signature) Gamaliel Lyman Dwight
Justice of the Peace
Page 9

I Anthony Tarbox, Town Clerk of the Town of Coventry, in the County of Kent, & State of Rhode Island, do certify that I have in my keeping the records of Marriages, and Births, etc. which have been recorded in the Books thereof in said town--that I have examined said records, and do not find  any record of the Marriage of Benjamin Carr, to Mary Burlingame, between the years 1780 & 1800 and I do not believe it is recorded in said Books. I further certify that I have found a record of the births of five children of the said Benjamin Carr and Mary, and that this is as follows, word for word, and figure for figure

=Benjamin Carr was born in the year of our Lord AD 1749 it being the eighteenth day of November Old Style, and the Seventh day of the week.
=Mary Burlingame, wife of Benj'n Carr, she was born in the year of our Lord AD 1765, it being the tenth day of April & the fifth day of the week.
=Ruth Carr, Daughter of Benj'n Carr & Mary Carr, his wife, she was born in the year of our Lord AD 1790 it being the eleventh day of May and the third day of the week.
=Wever Carr, son of Benj'n Carr & Mary Carr, his wife, he was born in the year of our Lord AD 1796 it being the twenty-sixth day of July & the third day of the week.
=Avis Carr, Daughter of Benj'n Carr, & Mary Carr, his wife, she was born in the year of our Lord AD 1800 it being the ninth day of Marcy, & the first day of the week.
=Benjamin Carr, son of Benj'n Carr and Mary Carr his wife, he was born in the year of our Lord AD 1804 it being the ninth day of January & the second day of the week.
=Mary Carr, Daughter of Benj'n Carr, & Mary Carr, his wife, she was born in the year of our Lord, AD 1807 it being the twentyth day of August and the fifth day of the week.
Page 10

I also certify that I believe many marriages have taken place in said town before and since the war of the Revolution which have never been recorded in our town records. 
(signature) Anthony Tarbox Town Clerk

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Kentt C. Coventry August 3rd AD 1841. Personally came before me Anthony Tarbox Esq. Town Clerk of said town of Coventry residing in Washington Village in said town, to me personally known as Town Clerk of our said town of Coventry, and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten Certificate by him subscribed.
(signature) Daniel G. Chace
 P. Notary
Page 11

(document is typed)

A morning return of Capt. Edward Carr's co. Col. Charles Dyer's regt. under command of Maj. Thomas Clark, Mar. 28, 1777. A pay abstract of Capt. Edward Carr's militia Co. under Col. Ray Sands, stationed at Bissell's Mills, from Jan. 6,, 1777, to Feb. 6, 1777. an order.
Carr, Benjamin, R. I. (written notation follows name) W 23,756

(Written notation at bottom of document) 
Sent to War Dept. Jany 16, 1713 c
Page 12

Rev.
WIDOW, &c.

File no. 23,756
Mary Carr
wid. of 
Benjamin Carr
Ensign R. I. line

Act: March 3rd 1843

Index: __ Vol. A, Page 141


[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13



8126
R. Island

Suspended
See let. to B. Cowell
January 10th 1842
same April 18, 1842

Act 7 July '38
Page 14

(document appears to be reverse of document #15)

Benjamin Carr junior
Ensign
of a Company
Jamestown. 

[Written along left hand side:]

found mutilated when claim was jacketed
May 12, 1911, AW

[written at bottom of left hand side:]

Benjamin Carr 
W 23,756 R.I.
Page 15

(Note: Document appears to be torn and part missing. End of each visible line of text has been marked by asterisk. Partial words are included.)

By the Honorable the GENERAL ASSEMBLY *
Of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations in Ne*
To Benjamin Carr Jun'r Gent. Greeting*

You Benjamin Carr Junior being, by the General Asse*

to Place and Office of ensign of the Company*
Jamestown in the County of Newport in the colony afo*

His Majesty George the Third by the Grace of God, King of*

thorized (authorized?), empowered and commissioned to exercise the office of Ensign*

aforesaid; and to command, guide and conduct the same, or any Part thereof. And in*

common enemy, to infest or disturb his Majesty's Plantation, you are to alarm and ga*

your Command, or such Part thereof as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to the utm (utmost?)*

are to resist, expel, kill, and destroy them, in order to preserve the Interest of His Majesty and*

You are also to follow such instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall, from Time to Time*

the General Assembly, the Governor and General Council, or other your superior Officers. *

mission (commission?) shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge.

By Virtue of an Act of the said General Assembly, I Henry Ward*

have hereunto set my Hand, and the Public Seal of the said Colony, this*

A.D. 1775, and in the Fifteenth Year of His said Majesty's Reign.

Seal bearing coat of arms featuring an anchor with the word "Hope" inscribed above.
Page 16

6445
Rhode Island
Mary Carr
widow of Benjamin Carr
and who died on 1st February 1832
of Kent Co. in the State of R. Island
who was an Ensign in the Company commanded
by Captain Carr of the Regt. commanded
by Col. James in the R. Island
line for 6 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 60 Dollars per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of May 1842 & sent to Benj'n Cowell
Providence R. Island

Arrears to the 4th of March 1841  $300.00
                                                        -------
                                                       $300
{Act July 7, 1838}

Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk, 
Book A Vol 2nd. Page 5
Page 17

Mary Carr
No. 8123
R.I. 
Act 7 July '38

[illegible] 88. & 30

[illegible]
6 mo. ensign
60$

No deduction
(signature) Benjamin Cowell
Providence R. I.
Page 18

I James Updike of North Kingston in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am now in the 80th year of my age and that I well recollect in the year 1775, 1776, and 1777 Benjamin Carr was an Ensign in a company of Militia from Jamestown of which Edmond Carr was Captain after the inhabitants were driven from Jamestown that Company used to farm and do duty on the main in guarding the shore against invasion. In 1776 said company was stationed at Wickford over one month when the weather was severe and cold in the early part of the year and I further testify according to the best of my recollection said Company was stationed at Wickford Bissell's Mills Boston [illegible] and other places. this was before the militia was divided into classes in 1776 I was appointed adjutant in Colonel Charles Dyer's Regiment and the above named Company was attached to our Regiment.

(signature) James Updike

Washington JC at North Hampton Dec. 10th 1841 Sworn to and subscribed before me and I further testify that I am personally well acquainted with the said James and he is a credible witness

(signature) Harris Smith, justice, CCPleas (Court of Common Pleas)
Page 19

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Secretary's Office Decem. 23 1841
I Henry Bowen, Secretary of said State and Keeper of the Records and the Seal thereof do certify that at the date of the official certificates by them severally annexed the said Stephen Waterman was an associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Kent - the said Daniel G. Chase a Public Notary for said County and Asa Stove Justice of the Peace for the Town of Coventry, in said county. Harris Smith associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Washington: and Gamaliel L. Dwight Public Notary for the County of Providence - each duly elected and commissioned as appears of record. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said State at Providence the day and year first above written.
(signature) Henry Bowen

Seal bearing picture of shield with anchor  motif.
Page 20

I Howland Vaughan of North Kingston in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am now in the 77th year of my age. And that in the beginning of the war of the Revolution, a family by the name of Carr came over from Jamestown in the year 1775 and brought some stock with them and lived my next neighbor in North Kingston. I recollect that one of the family by the name of Benjamin Carr junior bought a gun of my grandfather.  The said Carr lived within the District of Capt. John Brown's Company. But he did duty in the Jamestown Company during the time he lived in North Kingstown. He lived in North Kingston about 2 years and then removed into Coventry and there lived and dyed. In the year 1776 the militia were called out to do duty and they did guard the shores one station at Quidnesset neck one at Bissels Mills and another at Boston [illegible] and I remember that said company was called out to do duty and was stationed at the above named places. I was not old enough to do duty myself but I know the said Carr did. I think said Carr was an Ensign or other officer.

(signature) Howland Vaughan

Washington JC at North Kingston Dec 20th 1841 made solemn affirmation and subscribed before me and I further certify that the said Howland is personally well known to me and he is a credible witness.

(signature) Harris Smith Jus'c CC Pleas
Page 21

I Benjamin Greene of Coventry in the County of Kent and the State of Rhode Island now in my eighty second year of my age, on oath do testify and say that I was acquainted with Benjamin Carr formerly of North Kingstown, husband of Mary Carr now his widow (in said town of Coventry) I well remember that said Benjamin Carr and myself served as soldiers together in the war of the Revolution, one month in the year 1777 stationed at Tiverton it was in the month of October Mister Carrs officers I cannot recall and I cannot recollect whether he was a private or served as an under officer.
his mark Benjamin Greene

attest Asa Stone
[illegible]

State of Rhode Island JC
County of Kent at Coventry on the 9th day of December 1841 Personally appeared before me Asa Stone a Justice of the peace in and for said county, Benjamin Greene signer to the above written affidavit and made oath to the same and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Benjamin Greene and that he is a credible witness.

(signature) Asa Stone Jus't Peace
Page 22

I Ezekiel Johnson of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island being Eighty two years of age do testify and say that I was acquainted with Benjamin Carr late of Coventry husband of Mary Carr now his widow & I recollect of seeing said Benjamin Carr at East Greenwich in the time of the Revolutionary War he was equiped with his pack etc. Like the rest of the Soldiers and I have not a doubt in my mind but to conclude that he did one months tower at that time I should think it might be in the year 1776 or 1777 but it has been so long a time since that I cannot recollect what officers he was under or what company he belonged to but I think it was  Captain Roy's co. or Capt. Gibbsons Co. 

his
Ezekiel Johnson 
mark

attest Asa Stone

State of Rhode Island etc.
County of Kent jc

Be it known that on this 9th day of December 1841 before me Asa Stone a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared Ezekiel Johnson signer to the above written affidavit and made oath to the truth of the same and I also certify that he the said Ezekiel Johnson is a credible witness. In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand the day and year above written.

Asa Stone Just. Peace
Page 23

I Job Shearman of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode island on oath do testify and say that I am now almost 85 years of age that in the year 1776 in the 5th day of February I enlisted in Capt. Samuel Phillip's Company as a private for one year after that I lived on board of the Continental Ship Providence under Command of Abraham Whipple and then I enlisted in the Rhode Island Regiment under command of Colonel Greene and Colonel Okney and further testify that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Carr formerly of Jamestown on Connecticut Island he was an Ensign in the Jamestown Company of Militia for which Edmond Carr was Captain when I enlisted into Capt. Phillips Company our company was stationed at Quidnessett Neck the Jamestown Company then of which Benjamin Carr was Ensign was then stationed at Boston Meadow that the said Benjamin Carr did then do duty in said company as Ensign more than three months  viz. in the months of February, March April and may our company under Capt. Phillips was then stationed a part of the time at Quidnessett Neck part of the time at Boston Neck and part at Bissells Mills and I have a distinct recollection that Benjamin Carr with the Jamestown Company were in duty at the same time at Boston Neck and Bissells Mills and I also recollect that a principle of the inhabitants were driven off from Jamestown to the main and after that they served and did duty on the main

(signature) Job Shearman
Page 24

Washington JC In Exeter Decem. 10th 1841 Sworn to and Subscribed before me and I further testify said Job is personally well known to me and he is a credible witness.

(signature) Harris Smith Justice CC Pleas
Page 25

I Oliver Spink of North Kingston in the county of Washington and State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am now 86 years of age that in the year 1776 I served as an officer in the War of the Revolution also in the years following In the year above mentioned I served three months at a place called Bissells Mills on the shore of Narragansett Bay. During this time I well remember two officers by the name of Carr who were stationed there at the same time in a company from Jamestown and according to my best recollection the company served three months To wit the month of December 1776 and January and February 1777 one of said officers was Captain and the other Ensign and I recollect the inhabitants was principally driven off to the main and the Jamestown Company did do duty on the main at Bissells Mills and other places I was then an Ensign and served three months and they served as long as I did.

(signature) Oliver Spink

Washington JC in North Kingston
December 9th1841 Sworn to and subscribed before me and I further certify said Oliver is personally well known to me and he is a credible witness.

(signature) Harris Smith Justice CC Pleas
Page 26

Know all men by these presents that Benjamin Carr Junior of Coventry in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Son of Mr. Benjamin Carr, and Mary Burllinggame of Coventry in the County and State aforesaid, Daughter of William Burlliggame Esquire, have declared unto me their Intentions of Marriage. I do therefore hereby make public said intentions. If any person knows of just cause or impediment why those two persons should not be joined together in Marriage they may Declare the same as the Law Directs; Given under my hand and seal at Coventry aforesaid this Twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord A.D. one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.

(signature) John Rice Just. Peace
 
document bears a seal
Page 27

Providence May 5 1842
Sir
I received  yours of 28th Ult. enclosing a copy of your letter of January 10 including the claim of Mary Carr widow of Benjamin Carr an Ensign during the Revolution--I do not think it is in the power of the claimant to obtain any further or better evidence than what has been transmitted, one or two of the witnesses are dead since the papers were transmitted & those that survive will not, I think, be able to be more explicit in their statements - The greater part of the services in '75 & '76 were before the law dividing the militia into classes was passed & at a time when the militia constituted all the force for defense of the state the enlisted troops being at Boston & other places out of the state. It was therefore a matter of
Page 28

necessity, In combination of the documentary evidence two witnesses testify to 4 months service at one time. There was an order of the Council of War dated January 8 1777 to the Jamestown company for 3 months services. There is no man now living I believe who served in this company - But by looking at the old documents you will see ample proof from which to infer the performance of this service, I call your attention to the old papers dated Feb. 6, 1777 & March 28 1777 all which corroborate the evidence of Ensign Spink who is one of the most wealthy & reputable inhabitants of North Kingstown. I beg you to examine the evidence again & allow what is just & right. I ask for no more, I infer from your letter that 6 months may be all owed. I do not think this is enough considering the proof & circumstances - But if no more can be allowed at all events I have to request a certificate may be granted. 

I am respectfully
your obt. svt.
(signature) Benjamin Cowell

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Page 29

Providence April 11 1842
Sir
I transmitted to the pension office Dec 29 last, the claim of Mary Carr widow of Benjamin Carr, for a pension under the act of July 7, 1838. Not having heard anything respecting it, I wish to ascertain if the papers were received. I shall regret very much if the papers miscarried as there were several old original papers, Rolls etc among those and one or two of the witnesses have since deceased.

I am respectfully
your obt. servt.
Benjamin Cowell

J L Edwards Esq.
Page 30

Providence Dec. 27 1841
Sir
I herewith enclose the application of Mrs. Mary Carr widow of Benjamin Carr. I trust the evidence transmitted will be satisfactory that she is entitled to a pension altho' it falls far short of proving all Ensign Carr's services. It is understood that during the first two years of the war he was on duty most of the time. The inhabitants of Jamestown where he belonged were driven from the Island [illegible] on which Jamestown is situated to the main & after this the Jamestown Company did duty almost continuously at the several [illegible] on the shores. The old documents herewith sent fully corroborate the testimony of the witnesses. It is proved by James Updike & Job Shearman that he served 4 months at least in 1776. This was before the militia were divided into classes & it is proved by Oliver Spinks that he served three months at Bissells
Page 31

Mills afterwards and by looking to the order of the Council of War a copy of which was found among Benjamin Carr's papers, it will be seen that if the Jamestown Company would do duty three months, they should be allowed a bounty [illegible].
This duty was performed as abundantly appears from the testimony & one or two months besides - It also appears he did two tours of duty after his removal into Coventry one at Trinton and one at East Greenwich. Ten or twelve months appear to be served. It cannot be expected that after a lapse of 60 years, witnesses can remember every particular. It seems however in this case that what they have stated is corroborated by old documents among his papers - It is also known or understood that when [illegible] [illegible] the houses on Conneniset (?) in Dec. '75 he was on duty but the witnesses of this service
Page 32

are all dead. Nothing but tradition is left.

I am respectfully yours, etc.
(signature) Benjamin Cowell

L.J. Edwards Esq.
Page 33

814
Mary Carr


A[illegible] Ensign $60
R. Island Agency
Send to B. Cowell

Providence
R.I.
Page 34

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent JC

On this seventh day of April A.D. 1843, personally appeared before me the undersigned, a justice of the peace in said County Mary Carr now resident in Coventry in said county, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress, passed March 3rd. 1843, granting pensions to widow of persons who served during the Revolutionary War, viz: That she is the Widow of Benjamin Carr, deceased, who served in said War as a Ensign. That she received a pension under the Act of July 7, 1838, at the rate of $60 per annum, payable at the Agency for paying pensions at Providence. 

her mark Mary Carr

(signature) Amy L. Carr
attest (signature) Asa Stone

Kent Sc. in Coventry April 7th A.D. 1943, Personally came before me the above named Mary Carr and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by her signed and I further certify she is a credible person. 
(signature) Asa Stone Justice of the Peace
Page 35

State of Rhode Island [illegible] Kent Jc. Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas

I certify that Asa Stone Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in and for the Town of Coventry in said County, that the foregoing is his proper signature in his own handwriting and that full faith and credence is and ought to be given to all his official acts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court, at East Greenwich this 21st day of April A.D. 1843

(signature) Jer. S. Slocum Clerk

(Seal)