Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13285, John Gorton, R.I.
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Service 
 RI
Gorton, John
Phebe
Number  
W. 13285
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R. Island 2304
Phebe Gorton
widow of John Gorton decd
who died on the 5 March 1822
of Kent in the state of R. Island
who was a Pri in the Compy commanded by Captain Rice of the Regt commanded by --- in the R. Island line for 6 months R.I.

Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 20 dollars -- cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificte of Pension issued the 10 day of Sept 1838 and sent to B Cowall Providence R. Island
Arrears to the 4th of Sept $150.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 10.00
$160.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836 Section the }
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 89
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State of Rhode Island County of Kent ss
On this 27th day of October 1837 personally appeared before me William Carder one of the Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Kent Phebe Gorton of Warwick in said County aged 85 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 act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. Viz. that she is the widow of John Gorton late of said Warwick who was a soldier of the Revolution. That he served in the militia of said Warwick in the companies of Captain Thomas Rice and Capt Willard and in other companies a great part of the time while the British held possession of Newport but cannot particularly state his services. She must therefore refer to the evidence of those who were knowing to them for their amount. She well remembers he was gone in the service a great deal of the time and that she had in consequence not only her own but his business to attend to. And she further declares that she was married to the said John Gorton on the seventh day of October 1773 as will appear by the record of the Town of Cranston where she was married. That her husband the said John Gorton died on the fifth day of March 1822 and that she has remained a widow and unmarried since that period. Wherefore she requests that the same pension which her said husband was entitled to under the Act of June 7 1832 maybe extended to her. Warwick October 27 1837 (signed) Phebe Gorton
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State of Rhode Island
County of Kent ss
Personally appeared Phebe Gorton signs to the within subscribed and made oath to the same on the day and year within written. Before me. And I further certify that from her advanced age and bodily infirmities she is not able to appear in court.

Wm Carder Justice CC Pleas
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Phebe Gorton
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I hereby certify that John Gorton, of Warwick in the County of Kent, son of William Gorton, and Phebe Stone, late of sd[said] Warwick, now of Cranston, in the County of Providence daughter of John Stone, of Warwick, decest. were lawfully joined together in marriage on the 7th day of October Annoque Domini 1773 by me the subscriber
Thos. Potter Just. of the peace
___________________________________
___________________________________
Entered on record June 17th 1776 for me
N. Knight T. Clerk
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___________________________________
Town Clerks Office. Cranston
November 15th 1836 -
I certify that the above is a true copy from the records of said town for recording marriages etc. -
[illegible] Howard Town Clerk
___________________________________
___________________________________
The State of Rhode Island & Providence P. 
In Cranston November 17. 1836 
Then personally appeared [illegible] Howard and made oath to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed, and I further certify that the said [illegible] Howard, was on the first Monday of June last, appointed Town Clerk of said town for the year then [illegible] and is now duly authorized to act in that capacity

John Howard
Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island &c Providence Sc I Dexter Randall Clerk of the County of Common Pleas within and for said County Do hereby Certify that John Howard Esquire, before whom the within Document was sworn is a Justice of the peace for the Town of Crandon in said County that he is by Law duly qualified and authorised to take depositions and administer oaths that he signature of the said John within written is Genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Providence this eighteenth day of November AD 1836 Dexter Randall Clk
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Rev WIDOW, &c. File No. 13285 Phebe Gorton Wid of John Gorton Pri Rev War Act: July 4" 1836 Index: - A, Page 280 [Arrangement of 1870.]
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4 3605 R.I. Let to Benjm. Cowell, 27 July '38.
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Providence Setp. 3 1838 Sir I received yours of 27 July ult and in answer to so much of it as respects the claims of Mary Potter widow of Pardon Potter & Phebe Gorton widow of John Gorton. I have now to request that a certificate for 6 months in each case may be sent agreeably to your proposition they expect however that the pensions may be increased should any further testimony be produced. I am very respectfully yours. Benja Cowell
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY, William Sprague Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. BE IT KNOWN, That the name, "HENRY BOWEN," to the aforewritten attestation subscribed, is in the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto this said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed, at Providence, this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight and of Independence the sixty-second. By His Excellency's Command. Henry Bowen Secry Wm Sprague
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For further documentary evidence see the Rolls of Capt. Squire Millard in the case of Mrs Mary Gorton widow of Slade Gorton June 20 1840 B Cowell
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State of Rhode Island & c.
Secretary's office June 4. AD 1838.

I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday in May eighteen hundred thirty seven William Carder was elected associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Kent for one year and Commissioned accordingly.

I further certify that at the session of said Assembly on the first Wednesday of May last, the said Carder was continued in said office until the third Monday of June inst. 
As appears of record.

Witness Henry Bowen Secy
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I James Greene of Warwick in the County of Kent being now in my 81st year of age on oath do testify and say that I was formerly well acquainted with John Torton formerly of said Town of Warwick and the husband of Phebe Gorton now his Widow I well remember that said John served as a private in Capt. Thomas Rice Company and Col. John Watermans Regiment at the old Castle in old Warwick in the fall of 1777 and in the month of September according to my best recollection. I well remember said John was a school master and used to write for the officers and used to be Clerk for the Company. I have no doubt he used to serve two or three months in a Year in Monthly tours during the War but I cannot distinctly specify them. James GreeneKent Sc. In Warwick on this 28th day of Jany 1836. Sworn to and subscribed before me and I further certify that said is well known to me to be a respectable person and credible witness Wm Carder Justice C C Pleas
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4 3605 Phebe Gorton Phebe Gorton widow of John RId. Act 4 July 1836 roll of Capt Rice 34 days Dec. 76 aomd 6 mo pri 20$ no deduction
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I Nathan Miller of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island &c being now eighty six years of age on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Phebe Gorton of said Warwick the widow of John Gorton formerly of Said Warwick and who was a soldier of the Revolution during the two first years of the War. said John and myself served together in the same Company and after I joined the Kentish Guards I remember of his serving in the Militia Companies on the shores and on the Islands. In 1775 said John and myself were both enrolled as privates in Captain Reuben Whitmans Company of said Warwick afterwards Cap. Squire Millards in the Month of May and June of that Year we were Stationed at Warwick Neck and served a Tour of twenty days at least afterwards upon another alarm we served fifteen days at a place called Quitnesset Neck in North Kingstown and in December we served a month at said Warwick Neck all these services were in said Whitmans Company and said John served with us as a private, the Next time we served together was in January 1776 on the Island of Prudence when we served as much as one month this was the time the Houses on Prudence were burnt and in the fall follwing Just before the British
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Army landed at Newport we served another month stationed at Warwick Neck as privates in the same Company, in December 1776 I Joined the Kentish Guards under Capt. Richard Fry but I well remember said John Continued in the Militia and in January 1777 he Was Stationed at Warwick Neck a Month in Capt. Thomas Rices Company Col. John Watermans Regiment and Quartered at the Old Castle. His next tour was in May his Next in August, and his last tour in the fall of said year. These were all tours of one each. I may be mistaken as to the particular months, but the Militia were divided into three Classes and one Class was on duty all the time. And said John always served his drafts or tours. I saw him often he was a school maaster and I remember he used to be called upon to write for the officers the Kentish Guards were often at Warwick Neck on duty they were also in Spencers expedition this year in October and said Captain Rices company was also in that expedition and said John served a Month in said Company stationed at Tiverton in the two following years said John served in the same manner in the militia either in Capt. Thompas Rices of Capt Squire Millards Company but such a length of time has elapsed that I cannot remember the particular Months but all the Militia served and were obliged to served and I know I frequently saw said John on duty during the year 1778 and 1779 my recollection
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is very good as to the events of the War especially as to what took place in Rhode Island. I never heard of said Gortons hiring a substitute but have every reason to believe he always performed his tour of duty himself. I also remember said John Gorton served a Month on Rhode Island in August 1780 in Capt. Millards Company the Kentish Guards were there and saw him there on duty. The preceding is accorting to my best recollection sign. Nathan Signed his Mark X Nathan Miller 

Warwick February 10th 1835 State of Rhode Island &c Kent Sd. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me. And I further Certify that the said Nathan Miller is a credible Witness in the premises, Wm Carder Justice Court Common Pleas County of Kent
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I Mary Gorton of Warwick in the County of Kent do certify and say the preceding named Phebe Gorton is my mother and the said John Gorton was my Father that my father Died on the fifth day March AD 1822 and since his death my Mother has remained a Widow and I was with my Father when he Died Mary Gorton
In Warwick May 28th 1838 Swornto and subscribed before me and I further certify that said Mary Gorton is a credible Witness Wm Carder Justice C. C. Pleas

3605 4 Phebe Gorton Phebe Gorton widow of John R.Id. act 4 July 1834 roll of Capt Rice 34 days decr 76 aomd 6 mo pri 20$ no deduction B. Cowell Providence R.Id