Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,494, for Reuben Smith, Rhode Island
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Navy   Smith, Reuben   S.21.494
R.I.
carded
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27302
Rhode Island
Reuben Smith
Grove City in the State of R I he was a pri & Seaman in the ___ comanded by Captain ___ of the R.I. & Navy for
12 months private
7 months Seaman
Inscribed on the Roll of R.I. 
at the rate of 68 Dollars --- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 31st day of March 1834 and sent to Benjamin
Cowell Esqr. Providence RI

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $204
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th. Sep 1834  $34
$238

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by. George Taylor Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 page. 130
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30096
Reuben Smith
Providence City
RI

Benjamin Cowell Esqr.
Providence
RI
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Rhode Island District ss
County of Providence ss  U S District Court

On this 11th day of March AD 1834 personally appeared in open Court being the District Court of the United States now in session, Reuben Smith now resident in the City of Providence aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.  He entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated Viz.
In answer to the Seven Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he answers and says -
1  He was born in Cranston in said County November 25th 1758.
)
2  His birth was recorded in the family Bible.
)  
3  He lived in said Cranston when he was called into service.  Since the War he always lived in Cranston except the last two years.
4th  He was Drafted.
5th  He served under Captain Frederic Williams Capt Hinman Lieutenant Nathaniel Carpenter.
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6th  He never received any written discharge.
7.  His neighbours are John Arnold & Frederic Williams.  And this applicant further says that all the services he performed in the War of the Revolution were in the Frigate Dean and in the militia in Capt Frederic Williams Company, He does not remember who commanded the Regiment, but thinks it was commanded by several Colonels, during the several years he did duty. After the British took possession of Newport the militia were called upon to do a great deal of duty in garding the shores of Nanagansett Bay against their incursions.  And in 1777 our Regiment was divided into three divisions & one division was on duty all the time, and this duty continued until after the enemy evacuated Rhode Island in 1779.

And said Rueben further declares that he always performed his duty he always took his tour when it came to his time every third month & performed it.  And he avers that he served four months at least in the year 1777, between January and December of that year
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He cannot state the particular places, at which he was stationed but was principally engaged in garding the shores and watching the movements of the enemy.  sometimes they were stationed at Pawtuxet, sometimes at Warwick Neck.  the British had a fleet in the Bay which recquired continual watching.  In 1778 he served four months in the same kind of service and also four months in 1779.  he served twelve months in all at least, and all as a private, and all in said Company for which he claims a pension.
  And the said Rueben further declares that in or about April 1780 he enlisted as a mariner on board the continental Frigate, Dean, then lying at New London and under the Command of Capt Inman or Hinman to go on a Cruise, Soon afterwards we sailed.  During this cruise, we took a twenty-gun ship & also a Brig.  We took the Brig off the Banks of Newfoundland.  This applicant was put on board said Brig, as one of the prize crew.  One James Whitney was prize master  We brought the prize into Boston.  We arrived in Boston about the birth day of this applicant, in November, he remembers the fact from this circumstance - This applicant was then discharged having served seven months on board at least.
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He served Nineteen months in all.  twelve in the Army as a private and Seven in the Navy as a mariner for which he claims a pension.  He has no documentary evidence of his services but he produces the testimony of John Arnold, Frederic Williams and James Rhodes.
  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any agency of any State.
Reuben Smith

March 11th 1834
  Sworn & subscribed by said Reuben in open Court
  witness B. Cowell Clk
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I John Arnold of Cranston in the County of Providence on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Rueben Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  he is about 75 years of age, and I have always understood that he served in the militia in said Capt Williams Company and from my knowledge of his character I have not the least doubt he served as he has stated although I never saw him in the services he always sustained a good character for truth and veracity.
John Arnold
March 11 1834
I James Rhodes of Warwick in the County of Kent being now 70 years of age on oath do testify and say. that I am well acquainted with Reuben Smith who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration.  I have always understood that he served in the Army & Navy of the Revolution & from my knowledge of his character I have no doubt he served as he stated - I also remember James Whitney referred to in said Reubens
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declaration.  I remember when he returned home from the exercise mentioned, I also remember Rhodes Arnold who was a Lieutenant on board the same Frigate Dean.
James Rhodes

March 11 1834
  Sworn to & subscribed in open Court by said James
B. Cowell Clk
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I. Frederic Williams of Cranston in the County of Providence on oath do testify & say that I am well acquainted with Reuben Smith who is now present in Court & have known him for thirty years last past. - I also testify and say that my father was a Captain of Milititia during the Revolutionary War and I believe through the whole of it - he has been dead eleven years this month.  After his decease his papers came into my hands & in examining them I separated all the papers having any reference to his military services during the war of the Revolution & put them into a bag by Thursday - This bag was put up in to the garnett. but was destroyed & all the papers with it except one.  But I remember distinctly when once I examined them of seeing the name of Reuben Smith  I remember of seeing his name on some of the Rolls of his Company as
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private.  I also remember of hearing my father in his life time speak of said Reuben as one of his soldiers - from all these circumstances I have not the least doubt said Reuben served as he has stated. - Said Reuben has always sustained a good character for truth and veracity
The old paper here annexed is all I now have it appears to be a part of a Roll of his company in July 1780.  The persons whose names are on it are all now dead.
Frederick Williams
Feb 4th 1834
Sworn to in open Court
witness C. Cowell Clk
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I Turpin Smith of Providence in the State of Rhode Island being now 83 years of age on oath do testify and say that in the year 1780 according to my best recollection I was on board the Massachusetts State Ship Protector on a cruise off the Capes of Virginia & Charleston.  I well remember that at that time the Frigate Dean a vessel of the United States under the command of Capt Hinsman (or some such name.  I think it was) was on a cruise also & sometime in Company with us.  I do not remember of seeing Reuben Smith who is now present before me on board of her yet I have no doubt of the fact from the circumstances he has related to me respecting that cruise.  I have been acquainted with said Reuben for twenty years or more & have always believed him to be a man of truth & veracity
Turpin Smith (his mark)

March 6 1834
  Sworn to before me & I further certify that said Deponent is a credible witness in the premises
Benja Cowell
Comm for Dist Court
R I Dist
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above applicant Reuben Smith was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states  And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Fredic Williams James Rhodes John Arnold & Trupin Smith are residents in the towns as they state & are all credible persons & their statements are entitled to credit
I Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Reuben Smith for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand & affixed the seal of 
said Court on this 12th day of
March 1834
Benja Cowell Clk
(seal)
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.          3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.               19 [date is blank]
S.F. 21.494

In reply to your request of  [blank], received   [blank]
for a statement of military history of Reuben Smith
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.
[columns are listed as follows:]
1. DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
2. LENGTH OF SERVICE.
3. RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
4. CAPTAIN.
5. COLONEL.
6. STATE.

1777        | 4 mos. | Prt | Frederick Williams at Pawtucket & Warwick Neck, R.I.
1778        | 4 mos. | blank | blank | blank | blank|
1779        | 4 mos. | blank | blank | blank | blank|
Apr 1780 | 7 mos. |Mariner | Hinman on Continental Frigate Dean
                                                While on a cruise, Mr said frigate took much gun ship
                                                & a Brig. was put on board said Brig as one of the 
                                                crew under James Whitney page Master, and went with
                                                her to Boston, where he was discharged
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  Cranston, Providence Co. R.I.
Date of application for pension, March 11, 1834 His cl was ala
Residence at date of application, Providence R.I.
Age at date of application, Born Nov. 25, 1758, at Cranston R.I.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family and
the data and place of death are not stated.

Respectfully,

Commissioner.
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Revolution
21494
INVALID.
__________
File No. 21494
Reuben Smith
Priv Rev War
__________
Act: June 7” 32”
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 372
[ Arrangement of 1870.]

1919 June 26 Hist. To Miss Lulu Fellows.
1932 - Feb. 24 Mr. Herbert O. Brigham
add. rel. to pensioners [illegible]
Page 16

Herbert O. Brigham
Commissioner

State Record Commisioner
State House
Providence
January 28, 1932.

Mr. A.D. Hiller,
Assistant to Adminstrator,
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-

  Will you kindly send me an abstract of the Revolutionary service of Rufus Smith who served as Private and Seaman, Rhode Island Militia and Navy; placed on pension roll, March 31, 1834; pension commenced, March 4, 1831; age 75; residence, Providence County.

Very truly yours,
Herbert O Brigham
State Record Commissioner.
HOB-D
BA-J/AWF
(date stamp)
Page 17

HEADQUARTERS
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
OPIE CHAMBERS
SECRETARY-TREASURER

Rev. Sec [hand written]
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES
CLASS ONE - CHARTER  -  - $100.00
CLASS TWO - ADVISORY        - 50.00
CLASS THREE - PROMOTING - 25.00
CLASS FOUR - ASSOCIATE     - 10.00

South Dakota Development Association
INCORPORATED
“THE SUNSHINE STATE”

An Association of men 
and women who love 
South Dakota, and have
for their single purpose
the development of its
wondrous natural resources;
the announcement 
and advertisement 
of the same before all
the people everywhere,
the education and instruction
of the masses
of citizens in the function
and purposes of
government; the respect
for and obedience
to law; the blessings of 
liberty and the rights of
property and of men.

June 13, 1919.
The United States Pension Office,
Record Department,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

I am looking for certain data relative to
to a Reuben Smith, who served in the Revolutionary 
War, and who received a pension in 1834.

I have the following data:
Private, Capt. Frederick William’s Co., served 4 months,
in 1777, at Pawtucket and Warwick Neck;
Private, Same Co., served 4 months in 1778.
Private, same Co., served 4 months in 1779;
Enlisted April 1780 as Mariner on board the Continental
Frigate Dean, Capt. Hinman, stationed at New London,
served 7 months and discharged at Boston;.
Born in Cranston Nov. 25- either 1758 or 1760)-

Can you give me the following data:
Correct date of birth.
Date of Death.
Place of Death.
Name of wife
Name of children.
Date of marriage [this line is handwritten]

Very truly yours,
Lulu Fellows [signature]

Address:
Miss Lulu Fellows,
220 S. Prairie Avenue,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

U. S. Pension Office
K 
JUN
16
1919
Page 18

February 24, 1932

BA-J/MMF:MLB

Mr. Herbert O. Brigham
State House
Providence, Rhode Island

Dear Sir:

  Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to one Rufus Smith, who, you state, served as private and seaman, Rhode Island militia and navy; placed on pension roll March 31, 1843; pension commenced March 4, 1831; age 75; residence, Providence County.
  A careful search of the records has been made and no record found of a Rufus Smith as quoted by you.
  The pensioner whose record you quote, was named Reuben Smith.  In the report of the Secretary of War in regard to the pension establishment, printed in 1835, his name is erroneously printed "Rufus" instead of "Reuben".
  As you are interested in a Rufus Smith, is is presumed you do not desire the record of a Reuben Smith.

Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator