Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,328, Benjamin Cornell, R. I.
Page 1

Service
RI

Cornell, Benjamin
Martha

Number
R 2,328
Page 2

State of Rhode Island
& Providence Plantations

Newport s.c.

At Newport on this twenty first day of February A.D. 1839, personally appeared before the
underwritten Justice of the Court of Common
Pleas for the County of Newport, said Court being a Court of Records, Martha Cornell, a resident of the town of Newport in said county in the eighty fourth year of her age, who being first duly affirmed according to law, does on her affirmation make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of provision made by Act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "a Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".
  I Martha Cornell, of the tow and county of Newport on solemn affirmation declare as follows: vir.  I am the widow of Benjamin Cornell formerly of Middletown and late of Newport, both in said county, deceased.  I learned from [Ben?] Cornell, in his lifetime and now firmly believe, that he was in actual service in the war of the Revolution.
  I intermarried with the said Cornell, not previously to his leaving the service aforesaid, but prior to the first day of January A.D. 1794- to wit, I was married to the said Cornell by the Rev.  Gardner Thurston, in Middletown aforesaid, on the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy eight.
Page 3

I was left a widow by the death of said Cornell, my husband, which [?] in said town of Newport on the sixth day of February A.D. 1838.  And I have remained the widow of my said husband ever since the time aforementioned of his decease, and have not since the time of his decease, intermarried with another.
  And I further declare, in order to facilitate the investigation of my claims, that, as I have been informed and verily believe, the said Cornell, my husband, had been, before we were married and at different times both a private soldier and officer, as well as artisans in the war of the Revolution.
  That, in the Spring of 1775, he belonged to, and
did duty in a Militia Company in Middletown aforesaid; and in the Summer in following enlisted into a Company of Minute Men, commanded by Captain Gifford, where he served the guard of armories, and upon being ordered to Newport, he was chiefly employed in [?] the guns of said company and those of the Regiment of Col. Richmand - in which company are Regiment he continued to serve until February 1776, when the Minute Men were discharged.
  What my said husband again, enlisted in [?] Richmand's Regiments as the grade of armorer.  and was fi-
Page 4

formally transferred to Col. Olney Regiment
where he served till July.
That he was then appointed Ensign of the Militia Company in Middletown, where he served in that capacity until November- when he was appointed Ensign of Capt. [?], company which was raised for the defense of Newport, and enlisted for three months.  And in the month of December and while in the service last mentioned, he was taken prisoner and remained until after his commission expired.
  I have no documentary proof of these services, but have understood that my said husband lost his discharge and commissions either at the time he was taken, as while he remained a prisoner

Signed with her mark in the presences of A.D Taylor

Martha X Cornell
her marks

Subscribed with her marks and affirmed to be true, before me, on this day year before written.
Joseph Joslen [?] Newport
Page 5

State of Rhode Island &c
County of Newport Sc.
Newport February 21st A.D. 1832-
personally appeared the before named
Martha Cornell, and after having
subscribed and made affirmation
as aforesaid to the foregoing Declaration at her residence, also stated
that from her age and infirmity she
was, and had for some time been, unable
to go abroad for any purpose. And I
further certify, that I believe her to be a
credible person, and respectable in
Character.
Joseph Joslen,
C. Jus. C.C. Pleas
Newport
Clerks office Court of Common Pleas
County of Newport R. T. Feb. 23d 1839
Daniel C. Denham Clerk of said Court for said
County do hereby certify that Joseph Joslen above
named is Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
a Court of Record) for the County of Newport and is
duly qualified to act in said capacity and that his
signature above written is genuine-
I also further certify that William Gilpin is a
Justice of the peace duly appointed by the General
Assembly and commissioned by the Governor
of this State bearing date the 7th day of May eighteen hundred & thirty eight and is duly qualified to act
in his said capacity and that his signature hereafter written In
witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court
on the day & year above written
Daniel C. Denham, Clerk
is genuine.
Page 6

State of Rhode Island
County of Providence
On this 22d day of August 1854 personally
appeared in open Court being the Municipal
Court of the City of Providence Martha C. Taylor now 
resident in the City of Providence aged 64 years who being duly sworn makes the following ┃
declaration as well for herself as her sister Harriett
Stanhope in order to obtain all the access of
pension due their mother Martha Cornell
widow of Benjamin Cornell, late of Newport
in said State, both deceased, That she the said
Martha & her sister the said Harriet Stanhope
on the only surviving children of the said
Benjamin & Martha Cornell.
And she further declares that her father and
mother were lawfully married on the sixteenth
day of January AD 1778 as will appear by the
evidence now in the Pension office at Washington  and
that her father died February 6th, 1838, leaving
her Mother a widow, and that her said mother
made an application for a pension in her
lifetime on account of the services of her
further in the war of the Revolution under the
act of Congress of July 7, 1838, granting
pensions to the widows of those officers and
soldiers who had served in said war
But her mother's application was not granted
for the reason as he has understood that
her mother did not a more particularly state
the services of her father, the name of the
officers & the reason why her father did
not apply for a pension in his lifetime
Page 7

And the said Martha further says and
declares in regard to the reason why her
father did not apply that when the pension
act of June 7 1832 was passed her father was
possessed of a handsome property & did not much
care for it, being dilating & careless, but after he
lost his property by becoming security for
others & leaving mercy & became poor
he used to talk about it and she well remembers
of hearing his conversation with Capt
Benjamin Fry-Capt Fry used to tell
him he was entitled to a pension &
he ought to apply for one but he was
any very dilatory & finally died without
making any effort to get it.
And the said Martha C Taylor further
declares that her mother died on the
Eleventh day of June AD 1852 leaving
this declarant, & her sister Harriet
her only surviving children, and the
further declares that her father was a
Soldier of the Revolution & served in
previous capacities as private [?]
ensign, that August  in the year 1775 he
enlisted in a company of men belonging
as he believes to Portsmouth on the
Island of Rhode Island as the believes
served
commanded by Capt John Earle (or in
Militia Company of Capt David Gifford)
In this company he served there months
until November, as Armen, her father
was a blacksmith by trade & was for that
reason, taken to expose Guns, as she believes
Page 8

And the said Martha C. further declared
that in November as the believes her father
enlisted in Col William Richmond's Regiment of
Rhode Island Troops in a company, first
commanded by Caleb Gardner, Benjamin Foy,
Lieut. & after said Caleb promotion, by
Capt. Benjamin Fry said Regiment was
raised for one year & she believes he enlisted
as a private but was selected as [?]
or assistant amone to said Regiment
& served as such until said Regiment was
ordered by Congress to join the
Continental army in New York
in September 1776. nine months at
last.
And the said Martha further declares that
in the fall of 1776 he was appointed
an Ensign in Capt. [?] Spence
Company in a Regiment raised for there
months commanded by Col John Sayle
which company was stationed [?]
as a Gard & in which he served
until taken a presence of war
when the British army landed & took
possession of Newport in December
AD 1776 & he continued a prisoner until
after his time expired, previous to
the last appointment the believes her
father had been appointed an Ensign in
another company of Militia, but did
no service, that before the war of the
Revolution er father lived in Middletown but near y Portsmouth and learned
Page 9

the Trade of a Blacksmith of Richard
-
[?] as she has often heard, but moved
into Newport soon after his marriage
to my mother. She believes her father
served fifteen months, there [?]
in the Minute Company, nine months
in Col Richmond's Regiment & three
months in Capt. Wing Spires Company
for which the claims a pension
Martha C Taylor
In Marshal Court of
the City of Residence
August 22d 1846
Subscribed and survey
Martha C. Taylor in open
Albert here
Clerk
Court,
⎬
Page 10

4462
Petition of
Martha Cornell
R.B. Cranston
R.I
[?]
Page 11

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Newport 
I Daniel C. Denham Clerk of the 2nd Baptist Church
in the town of Newport do certify that I find recorded the
following marriage viz
(One thousand seven hundred & seventy eight and twenty
eighth) 1778 Jan. 27. Benjamin Cornell & Martha Wilbour of Newport
Daniel C. Denham above named depose and say that I hold
the office of Clerk of the 2nd Baptist Church in the town of
Newport County & State aforesaid and that the above is a
true extract from the records of Rev. Gardner Thurston
late Pastor of said Church with the exception of the
date expressed in writing the same being expressed
in fair legible figures as above written and certified
by me
Daniel C. Denham Clk
Sworn before me
Newport Sc
Newport Feb. 23. 1839
Then personally appeared before me Daniel C. Denham
and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above
statements by him subscribed-
Wm Gilpin
Just Peace-
Page 12

Benjn Cornell
0
2526
D J Pearce
House of [?]
Page 13

Sir:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, shewing the service of Benjamin Cornell of Newport Rhode Island
the
claimant.
Names and rank of the
officers under whom he served
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
---
From the 1st of May to the last of June 1775. He was employed by Edmond Simmons Esq. to make [?] tools for Col. Richmond [?]
82 [?] Newport RI
Traditional Evidence [?]
============================
From July 1775 to Dec 1776 was employed as armourer in Capt Gifford's company. Col Olney's Regiment with the exception of 3 months which time he served in Capt [?] company appointed  as an Ensign in July 18 1776 by the [?]
July 1777  3   Ensign  Capt Spooner

I am, respectfully

Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 14

                                   2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line."  "State troops" "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen & c.  Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

     Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4.  Indian Spies.
  As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all person claiming the benefits of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                       DECLARATION,
  In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory or District of County of    } ss.

On this    day of   personally appeared (a) before  A.B. a resident (b) of   in the county of   and State, Territory or District of    aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)  , with and  served in the     (e) regiment of the      line, under the following named officers:
[ Here set for the the names and ranks of the Field and Company Officers: the time he left the service: (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers:) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered  the service: the battles, in any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belong to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.

  He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

  Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[?] And  said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
I     of the Court of    do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of    for a pension.

 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of    &c.

  If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
  Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia  and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe declaration; that we believe him to be    years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
   Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court]
  And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above name applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies , that it appears to them that A.B.  who has signed and preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
 I,         Clerk of the Court of     do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of 

           In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this      day of     &c.
  Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at the least of one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the service of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction .
  If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and will also, whether he produced such evidence or not proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in comparison of his narrative with the evens of the period of his.
Page 15

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
{To a Soldier.
6. ┃
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given , and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what he has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate secretary of [?]
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
  No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
================================
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally  appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year--
-- months, and ------ days, I served as a--- For -- months and days , I served as a and for such service I claim a pension."
  It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into
to service
thority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
  In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j]   In a case where the name of the point is not found on her arm are who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witness , and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper or under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the case of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 16

War Section.
                             October 14, 1915

Mrs. R. H. Boone,
Jefferson, Ohio.
Madam:

In response to your undated letter which was
received on the twelfth instant, you are advised
that in the claim R. File No. 2,328, Rev. War, it is
alleged that Benjamin Cornell was engaged in the
Spring of 1775, and employed as an Armourer in repairing
guns at Newport, Rhode Island, for Colonel
William Richmond's regiment; that in 1776, he was appointed
Ensign of a Militia company in Middletown, 
Rhode Island, and in November 1776, was appointed
Ensign in Captain Wing Spooner's company, Colonel
John Sayles' regiment and served until taken prisoner
by the British at Newport, in December 1776.
The soldier married January 28, 1778, at Newport,
Rhode Island, Martha Wilbour. He died February 6, 1838,
at Newport, Rhode Island, where she was residing when
on February 21, 1839, at the age of eighty-three years.
she applied for pension. Her application was rejected
on the ground of insufficient proof of six months actual
Page 17

Rev.
   military service as required by the Act of July 7, 
1838, under which she applied.
  The widow died on June 11. 1852, leaving two children.
Martha C Taylor and Harriet, wife of Captain
John R Stanhope.

    Very respectfully,

  Commissioner.
Page 18

I Benjamin Cowell of the City & County
of Providence do further testify & say in
in reference to the claim of Martha
Cornell widow of Benjamin Cornell
a soldier of the Revolution for a pension
as I have before testified I have a
distinct recollection that after the act of Congress
of March 18 1818 was passed granting
pensions to certain officers & soldiers of the
Army of the Revolution I had occasion
to examine the military papers of
Capt. Benjamin Fry who had been a
Captain in Col Richmond's regiment
of Rhode Island Troops during the war
of the Revolution, among them I found
the Roll of his company. From this Roll
took an extract of a considerable
number of his men & write the names
on a blank leaf in my pocket book
and among the names so coppied was
was that of Benjamin Cornell, This copy
or extract I kept in my possession
until I sent it to the Pension office
attached to my affidavit as evidence
in the above mentioned case-
And I further testify that sometime
Page 19

afterwards I was employed by Joseph Whaley 
who assisted & claimed for services in Capt
Frys Company to assist him to obtain a
pension under the act of March 18,1818 and  May1,1820 that I again examined said Roll
and found the name of Joseph Whaley upon
it, I remember that same time during the
pendency of Whaley's claim that Capt
Fry permitted me to take the roll and
send it to the Pension office to prove
Whaley's services, and I think also
either at the same time or shortly afterwards Capt Fry made an affidavit for
the same purpose the proof was
then satisfactory.
And I further testify that in the year
1849 when I was preparing my work,
"the spirit of 76 in Rhode Island"  and I
was desirous of regaining the Roll of Capt
Frys Company or a copy of it for publication
and I addressed a letter to J. L. Edwards, Esq
then commissioner of Pension stating
the circumstances of my sending it to the
Pension office & requesting him to whom
it to me or a copy of it, for the purpose
above mentioned. In answer to my
letter the commissioner wrote me that the
Roll could not be found
Page 20

I then thought it best however to publish
the names on the imperfect copy of the
roll  which I had obtained, and I did so,
and the names of the same copy will be
found on page 26 of my work with
the addition of Joseph Whaley name
who also belonged to that company                         and I know that the name of Benjamin
Connell as published, was taken by me
from the original Rell & from the same
copy annexed to my former
affidavit and that that same copy was
always in my possession from the time
I took it to the time I sent it to
the Pension Office as before mentioned
Providence May  22 1855

Benjamin Cowell

Providence May 24 1855
Subscribed and sworn to before me
and I further certify that the said
Benjamin Cowell is a credible witness
Sylvester Hunter
Justice of the Power
Page 21

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
is genuine.
CLERK'S OFFICE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
PROVIDENCE, May [?] A.D. 1835
Amasa S. Westcott
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within
and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester Hartshorn was on the
twenty second day of May AD. 1855 a Justice of the Peace for said County of Providence
duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgement of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate purporting to be his
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal
of said Court, the day and year above written.
Amasa S Westcott  Clerk.
Page 22

Providence Aug 29 1854
Sir
I herewith enclose the claim of Martha C
Taylor & her sister for the arrears of pension
due their Mother Martha Cornell at the time
of his death, widow of Benjamin Cornell
a soldier of the Revolution. He served in the
early part of the war in the [?] Company
by order of the Legislature in Aug 1775.
in Capt. John [?] Company or in Capt.
David Gifford Company of Militia.  The same 
widow alleged service in the latter, but if in a minute company it must have been in the [?]
as Capt. Gifford in did command a "Minute
Company" in October 1775 a Regiment was
raised by order of the Legislation consisting
of five hundred men for one year, in this
Regiment, Benjamin Cornell enlisted & being
a Blacksmith by trade, was taken for an
Armorer  & served in that capacity until
the Regiment was ordered to in the Continental Army in September 1776. This Regiment was commanded by late William Richmond &Benjamin Cornell services were rendered in Capt. Gardner & then in Capt Benjamin Fry's Company after Capt. Gardner [?] 
This Regiment was taken into [?]
Page 23

May 11, 1776 (see the Resolve of Congress of that date ) in September following the officers of this Regiment received new Commissions from Congress & the Regiment was ordered to join the Continental army in New York (see
the Resolves of Congress of Sept 3 & 7th 1776)
This was a "state" Regiment at first, but was
afterwards a "continental Regiment" . The services of Benjamin Cornell were rendered while it was a State Regiment & up to the time it was ordered to New York. All the preceding facts are proved by the Records of Congress the Record of this State certified by the Secretary & with transmitted, & the [?] testimony of Capt. Benjamin Fry's company on file, as I understood in this case I refer also to a life of part of a hill of Capt. Fry
company annexed to my own affidavit
the original of which I have reason to believe
is now in the Pension office
In the fall of 1776. Benjamin Cornell was appointed an "Ensign in Capt. [?] Company in a
Regiment raised for the month, commanded by John Sayles This company was stationed at
Newport as a Gard in addition to the record
this service is proved by the evidence of Benjamin Fry, The widow asserted he continued in this company until he was taken prisoner. This no doubt was the part, It is a well known historical part, that the British army landed & took
Page 24

possession of Newport in December 1776
and no doubt this "Gard" called by Capt Fry
Newport Gard & probably, there stationed at
Fort Liberty were made prisoners of the
and no doubt all others found in any
were made prisoners of War also. The British
Army  kept possession of Newport from
December 1776 to November 1779 [?]
these years, but no doubt Cornell was exchanged
in same winter but not until his
time expired as [?] by the widow &
only three months service is now claimed
by the children as Ensign, It appear to
me that from all the evidence in
this case heretofore & now transmitted
that Cornell served three months in
the minute Company & nine in Col
Richmond's Regt. as armorer  & then
months as Ensign & I have to request
that the same be allowed & ordered
to be paid
I am Respectfully
yours [?]
Benjamin Cowell
Page 25

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
the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law. Wherefore
unto his 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 twenty first
day of February 
in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine 
and of Independence sixty third.
By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secry
Mr Sprague