Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39846, for Ebenezer Smith, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Navy
R.I.
Smith, Ebenezer
NUMBER 
S.39846
CONTENTS
[faint]
In 1819 aged 61 or 62 years & res. of South Kingston, Washington Co R.I.
Page 2

14.616 R
Rhode Island
Ebenezer Smith
South Kingston in the State of R Island on board the ship Providence he was a Marine [words crossed through] commanded by A Whipple of the U.S. Navy [word cut off] for the term of Ten Months
[Inscribed?] on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 17 of June 1819
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 of Sep 1819 and sent to John Watson [illegible] South Kingston R Island
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819 20.80
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 mar 1820. 48.00
Mo 18/30 $68.80
Revolutionary claim, Act 18th march, 1818
Continued
[illegible] Certificate of Pension [illegible] 2 Feby 1832 & sent to the Hon D C Pence H K -
Page 3

Ebenezer Smith
14.616
March 1820
Page 4

[Form with handwritten entries in {braces} ]
State of Rhode-Island & Providence Plantations.
Washington, sc - Court of Common Pleas, {Special} Term, A.D. 1820 On this {fifth} day of {July} 182{0}, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. {Ebenezer Smith} aged {Sixty Two} years residing in the Town of {South Kingston} in said {County} who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:- {that he served as a Mariner on board the Frigate Providence Commanded by Com^r [Commodore] A Whipple ^about^ Ten Months}
That he made a previous Declaration on the {17th} Day of {June} 18{19}, and that he has received a Certificate for a Pension, being No. {14616} - And in pursuance of the Act of Congress, passed May 1st, 1820, I do solemnly swear, That I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my 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 and 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 debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
[signature] Ebenezer his + mark Smith
A Schedule of Property and Income, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of
{Ebenezer Smith. Viz. 1 pig 3 Old Chairs 1 Tea Kettle 1 hoe 1 Old Ax 1 Old Table 3 Cups & Saucers 3 Old Knives 2 Old forks about Six acres of Land and an Old House which is under Mortgage for the full Value
And this declarant further saith that he is a Day Labourer but is so crippled on the right hand that he can do but little work that he is so infirm that without his pension he must depend on Charity and he further declares that he is involved in debt that he now owes more than Seventy dollars and for necessaries of Life}
[signature] Ebenezer his + mark Smith
Sworn to and declared, on the {fifth} day of {July 1820} before {said Court}
{Witn. [Witness?] Sam^l {Samuel] Helme} Clk [Clerk] of Court.
Washington, sc. Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas. A D 1820
I {Samuel Helme} Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records of said Court; - And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is {Two} Dollars, and {Ninety three} Cents. - In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this {Sixth} Day of {July} 182{0}
[signature] {Sam^l Helme} Clerk of said Court.
[Seal affixed to the left]
Page 5

State of Rhode Island &c.
Washington County sc. [brace}
On the Seventeenth day of June AD. 1819 Before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions of the Peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared Ebenezer Smith aged Sixty One Years resident in South Kingston in the County aforesd. who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath  make the following declaration in Order to Obtain the Provision made by the late Act of Congress entitled an Act to Provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary War that he the said Ebenezer Smith on the second day of August AD. 1776 he entered on board the ^armed^ Ship Providence owned by the United States of America and Commanded by Capt Abraham Whipple and that he Continued to Serve on Board said Ship Providence until the 27th day of June AD. 1777. that he served Nine Months in Company. [word Company again crossed through]
[paper pasted over original document obscuring most of the remaining text]
[text remaining]
He is in very
need of Assistance
has no Other
[text on paper pasted over the document]
Butts Hill 22^nd^ Nov. 1780
Ebenezer Smith being unfit for duty is at his own request discharged
Sam^l Ward L^t Col [Lt Col of the Rhode Island Regiment]
Page 6

State of Rhode Island &c.
Washington County sc. {brace}
on the seventeenth day of June AD. 1819 Before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas & General Session of the Peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared Ebenezer Smith Aged Sixty One Years resident in South Kingston in the County aforesd. who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to Obtain the Provision made by the late Act of Congress entitled an Act to Provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States on the Second day of August AD. 1776 he entered on board the ^armed^ Ship Providence owned by the United States of America and Commanded by Capt Abraham Whipple and that he continued to serve on Board said Ship Providence until the 27^th day of June AD. 1777. that he served Nine Months in the Company. [Company crossed through] Commanded by Capt. Dexter in the Regiment of which Samuel Ward was Lieut. Col. - that he is in very Reduced Circumstances and stands in need of Assistance from his Country for support and that he has no Other
Page 7

Evidence now in his power of his said services but what is herewith transmitted
[signature] Ebenezer his + mark Smith
Sworn to and Declared before me the Day and Year aforesd.
[signature] John Watson J C C P [Justice Court of Common Pleas]
I John Watson Justice of the Court aforesaid do Certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Ebenezer Smith did serve in the revolutionary War as stated in the preceding Declaration against the common enemy for the term of Nine Months in the Continental Establishment - and that he is in reduced Circumstances and Stands much in need of Assistance of his Country for Support  And I now transmit the proceedings and Testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the War Department pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress.
[signature] John Watson J C C P
The annexed Declaration is all that Ebenezer Smith has made to me
[signature] John Watson J C C P
Page 8

Invalid
RI
File 39846 Navy
Ebenezer Smith
Marine
Ship Providence
Revolutionary
Act 18th March 1818
Page 9

Deposotion of 
Job Sherman
Page 10

Job Sherman of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on Solemn Oath Testifyes [testifies] and Sayes [says] that in the Year 1776 I then Belonged to the Ship Providence one of the Continental Ships Commanded by Abraham Whipple, and that Ebenezer Smith Belonged to said Ship Providence at the same time and [words obscured] the said Ebenezer Smith was on Board Said ^Ship^ ten Months
[signature] Job Shearman
Washington County State of Rhode Island at South Kingston this 18^th Day of November in the year AD 1818 personally Came Job Sherman Subscriber to the preceding Deposition After being Duly [illegible] and Sworn Made Solemn Oath to the truth of the Same
Before Me Matthew Waite Jus Peace
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Washington County sc. } Clerks Office Court Common Pleas
I certify that Matthew Waite Esq^r whose Certificate is hereto Affixed is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of South Kingston Legally chosen and Qualified as the Law requires that full [faith?] & Credit ought to be given to his Certificate throughout the United States that the Seal here impressed is the true Seal of the Court afores^d 
Witn. [Witness?] Sam.^l Helme Clk
Page 11

South Kingston Washington County State of Rhode Island
June 19th AD 1819  I hereby certify that I have been
acquainted with Job Sherman subscriber to the 
within deposition for more than twenty years
and that I know nothing to the contrary
but that he is considered to be a man of truth
and veracity
Matthew Waite Just Peace
Page 12

Ebenezer Smith 4178
Rhd Island
Ship Providence
2nd August 1776
27 June 1777  wm

This declaration is dated in
June 19 1819 the testimony in Nov 13 ofc of clk
If this should be a second
declaration, the judges will
cartify what the date of
the first [illegible]
Admitted
Page 13

State of Rhode Island
Washington Fc Clerks Office Court Com. Pleas &
Genl Sessions of the Peace
June AD. 1819
I certify that the Hon'ble John Watson
whose certifcate is hereto affixed is a 
Justice of the County aforesaid legally chosen
and qualified as the law requires that full
faith and credit ourght to be given to his
certificate throughout the United States & else-
where that the seal here impressed is the
true seal fo the Court aforesaid
Sam. Helme Clk
Page 14

To the Honorable Lewis Cass Secretary of War
of the United States


The memorial of Ebezezer Smith of the
town of South Kingstown in the County of
Washington and State of Rhode Island, respect-
fully representing
That some years past he had granted to him
a pension  from the United States as soldiers
of the War of the Revolution and received
a pension certificate acconrdingly which said
pension certificate he placed in the hands of
his friend Elisha Watson Esq for safe keeping
and by whose kindness he had been repeatedly
asserted in collecting his pension money from
the branch bank in Providence.  That same
time during the last summer the said Elisha
Watson misplaced or lost said pension certificate
and after the most dligent search has not
been able to find it so that your memorials
has not been able to collect his pension
due in September last and is hereby deprived
of the bounty conferred on him by his country
and being poor and destitute he suffers from
the want of it especially at this inclement
season of the year.  Theefore your memorials
prays your Honor to take his case into consider
ation and cause to be granted to him a new
Page 15

Dated at South Kingstown aforesaid this third
day of January AD. 1832

James W. Anthony witness to Ebenezer Smith  X his mark
signing of Ebenezer Smiths
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Washington fc South Kingstown January 13 AD 1832
Then personally came before me the [illegible]
of the Justice of the Peace for the Town of
South Kingstown Ebenezer Smith [illegible]
to the foregoing memorial and also at the
same time came Elisha Watson Esqr both
of whom is to me well known as men
of truth and veracity and severally made
 oath that the statements as set forth
in the foregoing memorial were just
and true in all their points
Matthew Waite Justice Peace
Washington DC Clerks Office Court Common Pleas
Jany 13 1832 I Samuel Helme
Clerk of the court aforesaid do hereby certify that
Matthew Esq where signature is hereto affixed is a Justicce
of the Peace for the Town of south Kingstown in the County
of Washington legally elected and qualified as the law
requires.  that full faith and credit ought to be given
to
Page 16

to his certificate throughout the United States
I further certify that I am personally acquainted
with Elisha Watson Esq and W. Ebenezer Smith and
consider them men of truth & veracity.  I further
certify that the seal here employed is the
proper Seal of the Court  [illegible]
Sam. Helme Clk
of the Court Aforesaid