Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,039, Sanford Almy, Mass. R.I.
Page 1

Service
Mass.
R. I.

Almy, Sanford
Number
S 21,039
carded

Contents
Page 2

21,415
Rhode Island
Sanford, Almy
of Newport in the state of Rhode Island
who was a Sergt &c in the comp. commanded
by Captain Cook of the regt. commanded
by Col. Cook in the R. Island
line for 23 mos. priv, 1 mo  sgt.
$76.66
$5.00
$81.60

Inscribed on the roll of Rh. Island
at the rate of 81 dollars 66 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Sep. 1833 and sent to A Gray, Tiverton.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep [illegible] $204.16
Semi Anl Allowance ending 4 [illegible] '34 $40.83
$244.99
d. Sept 19. 1844

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Go. C Stiles, Clerk
Book E, Vol 2, Page 201
Page 3

(page has one incomplete word)
Sang
Page 4

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerks Office of the Court of Probate of the Town of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State aforesaid.
I Asa Gray Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that Abner Simmons whose signature is affixed to the deposition of William Cook, Thomas Wilcox and Abraham Manchester hereto annexed, is one of the Justices of the Peace for said Tiverton, County of Newport, duly commissioned under the seal of this state and fully qualified to act in his said capacity. And I further certify that the signature of his name to said depositions is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Tiverton, state aforesaid this first day of Apil in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.  And of American Independence the fifty seventh.
Asa Gray, Clerk of Court of Probate
Page 5

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport Ss
On this first day of April AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Probate for the Town of Tiverton, in the County of Newport aforesaid now sitting, Sanford Almy a resident of Little Compton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged seventy three 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 act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.  That is to say, he in the month of December 1776 in Tiverton in the county and state aforesaid, where he then resided, was enrolled and belonged to the first or lower company of militia in said Tiverton, commanded by Capt. Isaac Cook, and attached to the regiment of Col. John Cook of this company. Philip Cory was Lieutenant and Philip Manchester Ensign.  The first service he recollects of performing was in said December 1776 at the time the enemy took possession of Rhode Island, he was then in said company stationed at Huntlands Ferry and was crossed over to Rhode Island and assisted in getting off the stock, i.e. to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy after this we were moved lower down in said Tiverton and stationed at the house of Joseph Almy near Jugland Ferry, from this time to wit, the time that the British took possession of Rhode Island until they left the same a period of nearly three years. 
He was drafted from said company of militia for periods of a month at a time, and your declarant avers, according to his recollection, and the impression that he has always had, as often as every other month, and was in the public service employed in guarding the shores in said Tiverton from Togland ferry northerly towards Howlands ferry, that
Page 6

in one of said drafts he was attached to the expedition under Gen. Spencer, which it was thought was to attack the enemy on Rhode Island in 1777.  He was also in one of said drafts on Rhode Island in the year 1778 in Gen. Sullivan's expedition, and under said Capt. Cook in the regiment of Col. John Cook.  He further avers that he knew Gen. Sullivan, Gen. Varnum, Gen. Spencer, also the French Gen. Lafayette and Gen. Cornel, who had the chief direction of the militia.  Said Gen. Varnum drove two ships out of the river, with two cannon placed on Troland, your declarant was on duty there at that time.
In the year 1781 he served one month under said Capt. Cook stated at Butts Hill on the northerly part of Rhode Island and while there was detached out with others under Lieut. Humphrey Shearman to go down towards the south end of the Island to join Col. Peck's regiment called the Light Corps.  He cannot remember the time of year when he performed this service but it was while the French troops were there.  He again the same year 1781 was called out and served one month under Capt. Pegleg Simmons who now had the command of said lower company, this month we were stationed below Newport on Brenton's Point, and Samuel Bailey was Lieut. Col.  This was at the time the French troops left.
And said Almy further avers, that at the time of the revolution being a single man, he resided with his father at one of the nearest houses to Tigland Ferry in said Tiverton, that while the enemy had possession of Rhode Island, there were more or less soldiers always quartered at said house, and that a part of the upper or North company of militia in said Tiverton, were frequently stationed there under Ensign Borden.  And your declarant avers that he served as a substitute for [illegible] men in said company from December 1776 to November 1779, not less than four months.  He also served one month as a substitute for a man that came from Rochester in the Massachusetts militia, but from the length of time that has elapsed he cannot recollect any of the names of the persons for whom he served as substitute, nor can he recollect the officers under whom he
Page 7

served for the man from Rochester, but he avers that it is full in his recollection that he performed said service.
And said Almy declares that from December 1776 to November 17779 he served on his own account not less than seventeen and a half months and in the year 1781 two months, all which services performed in said lower or first company of militia in said Tiverton; that during the time the British held possession of Rhode Island, he served as a substitute not less than five months stationed in Tiverton opposite Rhode Island viz. four months under Ensign Borden of the North Company of Militia in said Tiverton, and one month in a company of militia from Massachusetts, making in the whole twenty four and a half months that he served in the War of the Revolution and received pay for the same, all of said services performed as a private soldier, except one month viz. the month on Brentons Point under Capt. Simmons, when he served as a Sergeant.
And he further declares that he was born in said Tiverton on the 25th day of August 1759, and that he hath a record of his age, that he resides in said Tiverton when called into the service aforesaid, and that since the war of the Revolution he removed into the adjoining town of Little Compton where he now resides and that  he has never resided in any other towns.  That he never received any written discharge from any of said services but was verbally discharged by his commanding officers.  That he has no documentary evidence of said services.  There is no clergyman living in his neighborhood or vicinity.  He therefore refers to John Tabor, Elihu Hicks, Esq. who are his neighbors residing in said Tiverton, and with whom he has been acquainted upwards of sixty years, who will testify to his character for veracity and to their belief that he was a soldier of the Revolution and also to the enclosed depositions.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
Sanford Almy
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Asa Gray, Clerk
Page 8

We, John Tabor Gent. residing in the town of Tiverton aforesaid and Elihu Hicks Esq. residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Sanford Almy who has subscribed and sworn to the above and forgoing declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three 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.
John Tabor
Elihu Hicks
Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid
Asa Gray Clerk

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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that John Tabor Gent. who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in said Town of Tiverton, and that Elihu Hicks Esq who has  also signed the same is a resident in the same Tiverton, and are credible persons, and their statement is entitled to credit.  And said Court further certifies that the deposition of Elihu Gifford hereto annexed was sworn to and subscribed this day before this Court and said deponent is a credible person and his statement is entitled to credit.
I Asa Gray, Clerk of the Court of Probate of the Town of Tiverton in the county of Newport and state aforesaid, a Court of Record, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sanford Almy for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty three and of American Independence the fifty seventh.
Asa Gray, Clerk of Court of Probate
Page 9

I Elihu Gifford of Tiverton, in the county of Newport and state of Rhode Island, aged seventy four years, do on solemn oath depose and say that I have been well acquainted with Sanford Almy, formerly of said Tiverton and now residing in the adjoining town of Little Compton and an applicant for a pension under the late Act of Congress, for the last sixty years, during the Revolutionary War, I belonged to the middle company of militia in said Tiverton, and was on duty at divers times on said Tiverton shore from Toglane Ferry to Howland ferry while the British held Rhode Island.  I then knew said Almy to be in actual service in the guards on said shore in the lower company in said Tiverton, commanded by Capt. Cook, to which company he belonged, he living then with his father, one of the nearest houses to Toglane ferry and which was a barracks for the soldiers, said Almy being a young and single man and living in the view of the enemy and where our troops were all the time quartered, stood as the substitute for persons at different times, as I understood at the time; I knew of his being hired as a substitute by men belonging to the upper company in said Tiverton, which or a part of which was generally stationed near said Togland ferry, and I also well recollect that said Almy served one or two months for men in the militia that came from Massachusetts.  I understood at the time and I remember it as a fact that said Almy served more than was his quota of service according to the regular drafts, but for whom he so served, if I knew at the time, I cannot now recollect their names, they being people with whom I was not personally acquainted.
Elihu Gifford
Sworn to and subscribed this first day of April 1833 before the Court of Probate for the town of Tiverton, in the county of Newport, now sitting.
Asa Gray, Clerk
Page 10

I William Cook of Tiverton in the county of Newport and state of Rhode Island, aged seventy seven years, on solemn oath do depose and say that I have been acquainted with Sanford Almy now residing in the town of Little Compton in said county of Newport an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress, for the last sixty years, said Almy in the time of the revolutionary war, resided in the said town of Tiverton, at the house with his father near Fogland ferry, which house was also a barrack for the soldiers; after I left the states service in the  spring of 1778, I was enrolled in the lower company in said Tiverton commanded by Capt. Isaac Cook in the regiment of Coll. John Cook and said Almy belonged to said company, and was drafted out to do duty in guarding the shores from Fogland ferry to Howland ferry, as often as every other month according to the best of my recollection, having been on duty with him frequently, and said Almy informed me at the time and I verily believe that besides his regular drafts of every other month, he served as a substitute for others at different periods.  We were together in Capt. Cook's company on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition and in the year 1781 we were together in the same company under Capt. Cook, or at this time under Capt. Pegleg Simmons, stationed near Butts Hill on Rhode Island and a detachment from said company and other companies were sent down to the south end of the Island and I recollect said Almy went in it and returned back and joined the company again at Butts Hill.
William Cook
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
Be it known that on the 20th day of March AD 1833, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared the above named William Cook and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, and I do hereby certify that the deponent is a credible person.
Abner Simmons, Justice Peace
Page 11

I, Thomas Wilcox of Tiverton, in the county of Newport and state of Rhode Island, aged seventy four years, do on solemn oath depose and say that I am and have from my youth [illegible] been well acquainted with Sanford Almy now residing in Little Compton, in said county of Newport, an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress; during the revolutionary war he resided in said town of Tiverton, at his fathers in the 
immediate vicinity of Togland ferry, he belonged to the lower or first company of militia in said Tiverton, of which Isaac Cook was Capt. and to which I myself belonged when not engaged in the state service and I have frequently been on duty with him in guarding the shores in said Tiverton.  We were also together one month in said company then under Capt. Peleg Simmons on Brenton's Neck near Newport in the year 1782 during this month said Almy was a sergeant.
Thomas Willcox
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
Be it known that on the 19th day of March AD 1833, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared the above named Thomas Willcox and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, and I do hereby certify that the deponent is a credible person.
Abner Simmons, Just. Peace
Page 12

I Abraham Manchester of Tiverton in the county of Newport and state of Rhode Island aged 71 years, do testify and say that I have been acquainted with Sanford Almy now residing in the town of Little Compton in said county of Newport an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress for the last fifty or sixty years, said Almy in the time of the Revolutionary war resided  in said Tiverton at the house with his father near Fogland ferry, which house was a barrack for the soldiers; said Almy and myself were both inrolled in the company commanded by Capt. Isaac Cook and frequent drafts were made from said company to guard the shores of said Tiverton while the British had possession of the Island of Rhode Island and also to guard said Island after the British left it; I was with said Almy one month on Rhode Island in the year 1782, in the company commanded by Captain Peleg Simmons, stationed on Brinton's Point, near Newport.
Abraham Manchester
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
Be it known that on the 20th day of March AD 1833, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared the above named Abraham Manchester and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.  And I do hereby certify that the deponent is a credible person.
Abner Simmons, Justice Peace
Page 13

No 25136
Sanford Almy
Newport
Rhode Island

Private 23 months
Sergt       1 month
24 "

163.33
110.83
204.16

Asa Gray, Clerk
Tiverton
Newport[illegible]
Rhode Island
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office, 183
Sir,
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 show 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 the Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will, be complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
Rhode Island
A statement, showing the service of Sanford Almy, Newport Co.

Period when service was rendered: Drafted Dec 1776, 1777, 1778 to Nov 79
Duration of service: Not less than 1 yr, 5 mos, 15 days. To Nov 81, 2 mos.  Also as a substitute 5 mos.
Total duration:  2 yrs 75 days
Rank: Private
Officers under whom he served: Capt. Cook, Col Cook, Gen[illegible] Spencer, Capt  Cook, Genl Cornel, Capt Cook, Capt Peleg Simmons
Age at present: 73 years
Place of abode when  he entered the service:  Newport Co., Rhode Island
Proof by which the declaration is supported:  Witnesses stated credible by the court, and traditional evidence, also credible.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servance,
J L Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 15

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 serve on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who farmed 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 persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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 the 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 forth the names and rank 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, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied to as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, etc.] 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. A.B. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] And the 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) point out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers of Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with, who has subscribed and sworn to the above 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 day 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 purring the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named 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 the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman 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 for a pension. 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 or 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 least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. If such surviving witnesses cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 16

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.
6. 
To a soldier - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an officer- Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 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 enquiry 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 a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of 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 monthe
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 service by competent authority
; 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
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 witnesses
, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John N Ashton
Page 17

State of Rhode Island &c. County of Newport SS. Personally appeared before the me undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the said County of Newport. Sanford Almy of Little Compton in said County an applicant for a Pension, 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 in the periods of the war mentioned and in the following grades namely in the month of December in the year 1776 at Tiverton in the County of Newport and State aforesaid I was drafted and served as a private one month under Capt. Isaac Cook in the Regiment of Rhode Island Militia commanded by Col. John Cook in the year 1777. I served as a private under the same Capt. Cook and same Col. Cook. Six months in periods of one month at each time, the first month commenced in February the next in April, the June, August, October & December in one of my months tours this year I was attached to the expedition of Gen. Spencer. I was in all the above service stationed near Toglan Ferry at the houses of Joseph Almy & widow, Nancy Almy. I in the year 1777 also served as a substitute and as a private, three months in periods of one month at each time in a Company of militia in said Tiverton a part of which was stationed near Togland at the house of John Almy under the command of Ensign Borden, afterwards Capt. Borden, & in the Regimt of Col. John Cook; in the year 1778 I served in the same Company of Militia under Capt Cook & Reg under Col. John Cook. Six months as a private, in periods of a month at each time, I was this year in the month of August, on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition in one of my said monthly drafts at other times I was quartered at the aforesaid houses of Joseph Almy and of Nancy Almy. I served on month this year as a substittue, and private under the above said Ensign Borden stationed at the above named house of John Almy, and one month as a Substitute & as a private in a Company of Militia from Massachusetts this month was in April or may and we were
Page 18

quartered at said John Almy; Church was an officer in this Massachusetts Company and _ North commanded the Reg. according to the best of my recollection. In the year 1779 I served in the same Com. of Militia first above named as a private under Capt. Isaac Cook, & in the Reg. of Col. John Cook. not less than four and a half months, in periods of one month at each time, except his last tour when he served on half of a month, these months were February, April, June, August & October as neas as I can recollect. In the year 1781 & I think in March I served one month as a private in the same Com. of Militia & under Capt. Isaac Cook, stationed at Butts hill on Rhode Island and the same year in the month of May I served one month as a Sergeant, in the same Com. of Militia now under Capt. Pegel Simmon & the Reg. commanded by Lieut Col. Samuel Bailey, stationed on Brenton's Point, near Newport making in all twenty three & a half months as a private and one month as a Sergeant and for such service I claim a pension. And I further declare that the corps with which I served was called into service by the State of Rhode Island (except the month I was in the corps from Massachusetts, which was ordered out by that State) and that during said services I was not engaged in any civil pursuit. Sanford Almy Sworn to and Subscribed this 3d day of August AD 1833 at Tiverton in said County of Newport Before me Abner Simmons Justice Peace

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Clerks Office of the Court of Probate for the Town of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State aforesaid I Asa Gray Clerk of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that Abner Simmons whose signatrue is affixed to the aforegoing Deposition is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Newport duly commissioned under the Seal of this State and fully qualified to act in his said capacity, and the above signature of his name is his genuine Signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at said Tiverton this third day of August AD 1833 Asa Gray Clerk
Page 19

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS. S.F. 21,039 Washington, D. C., , 19
In reply to your request of received for a statement of the military history of Sanford Almy 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. DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Dec 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779 + 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE. Served at various times 23 1/2 mos. as Pri & 1 mo. Sgt. 
RANK. Prt. 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. Isaac Cook Peleg Simmons COLONEL. John Cook Samuel Bailey 
STATE. R.I. 
Also served 1 mo. in Mass. militia no officers stated Mass. 
Battles engaged in, Expeditions under Genls. Spencer and Sullivan
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Tiveron R.I. 
Date of application for pension, Apr. 1. 1833 His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Little Compton, Newport Co. R.I. 
Age at date of application, b Aug. 28, 1759 at Tiverton R.I. d. Sept 19 1844 * No family data. * from A.B. 
Respectfully, Commissioner. 6-2856
Page 20

Rev. and 1812 War Section.

February 26, 1926.

Henry P. Burt
355 Union st
New Bedford, Mass.

Sir:

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 21039, it appears that Sanford Almy was born August 28, 1759 at Tiverton, Rhode Island.

While residing at Tiverton, Rhode Island, he enlisted in December 1776 and served at various times until 1781, as private and one month as sergeant in Captains Isaac Cook's and Peleg Simmons' Companies, Colonels John Cook's and Lemuel Bailey's Rhode Island Regiments, he was in expeditions under Generals Spencer and Sullivan, and served in all twenty-three and one half months.

He also served one month in the Massachusetts Militia, no officers stated.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 1, 1833, while a resident of Little Compton, Rhode Island.  He died September 19, 1844.

It is not stated that soldier was married.

Respectfully, 

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 21

21039 INVALID. No. 21,039 Sanford Almy Sergt Rev War Act: June 7" 32" Index: - Vol. 2, Page 5 [Arrangement of 1870.]

1915 Feby 1 Histo. to Frank F. Almy V. L. U
1936 Feb 26 Hist to Henry P. Burt see letter in Abner Burt S. 28666 aws
Page 22

GRINNELL COLLEGE
GRINNELL, IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
FRANK F. ALMY
Jan. 26, 1915.
The U.S. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
May I ask for such information as may be available in your records regarding the military services of 
[handwritten] reg.
Pardon Gray, Major in 1776 and Lieut. Col. in 1777, of the 2nd Regiment of Rhode Island troops.
Also of Sanford Almy, a Sargent of Newport County, R.I. militia; placed on pension roll, Jan. 24, 1834.
Respectfully yours,
Frank F. Almy
[checkmark]