Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,053, for Joseph Stanley, Rhode Island
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Service | Number
R.I. Stanley, Joseph R. 10,053
Contents
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Oct 15
Conv
Jos. Stanley
R.I.
Greenboro VT
Octr 6th
L. Edwards, Esq.
Pentioner Office
Washington City DC
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Greensborough Vermont October 4th 1838
Sir, in August 1834 I employed S. F. Taylor esq. our lawyer to make out my claim for a pension and directed him after completed to let me see it also some boddy (somebody?) that was used in the business to see if it was correct, but instead of that to my surprise he put it in mail and it got to Washington before I knew it was gone, with all its mistakes and blunders without leaving me a copy, he never told you that I was sick and unable to attend court, he did not name my services right nor the officers as I know of, and as my claim went off unbeknown to me I think it will be fair play to send it back or call it nothing, esq. Taylor went off to west soon after and I not seen him since.
in 1817 I was in the Attleborough had some conversation with Colonel Obed Robinson a pensioner and he told me that I belonged to the garrison in Providence and that I was entitled to a pension if I could find my name on roll and was poor enough. Soon after I was in Providence and could find no roll, Colonel Taylor was dead and his regiment moved away, in those days I had some property but now I am poor and unable to work. I have but one son and he took the poor man's oath last summer, as to my services the first four years of the war I was employed in making saltpeter and chunk coal also in making officers and soldiers coats for the continental army. I had two sisters Taylorist (taylors?) who cut basted the coats and they [illegible] around town where they would take them to make up, my employ was to cut the wood and keep the shop warm
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as long as three months one very cold winter, this I can prove by a respectable old lady in town who is about eighty also the man is alive that I worked with making coats all those serving were done without pay turning and all, the materials for those coats were found by individuals and after the coats was done they were sent on to the continental army as a donation and free of expense, this is what we call old fashion whigery, the toreys did not work without pay, it was the opinion of old people in Attleborough that every whig that was old enough to ride a horse and drive a team was entitled to a pension who lived on the post road from to Boston, the services mentioned above and the loss sustained by the old continental money I think entitles me to a pension according to the law of conscience, the last four years of the war I left the country and stood as a sentinel on the seaboard, one summer on Tauten River on the picket and the three last years on Providence river in 1781 I went to Providence in the month of April and there agreed with Major Charles Pease to live with him four years and by his request listed in to Colonel Thayes regiment which was raised and stationed there by the authority of the state and caused a garrison now Major Pease owned a field ten acres on Beacon hill and the fort  stood in the middle, and he undertook to keep a sentinel in the fort when it was necessary especially when the wind was southerly and good time for Arnold and his savage crew to come up the river, who destroyed new London, my employ was to go up to the fort with a spyglass and keep a look out down the river, I had a kettle of tar in my hand and three eighteen pounders to give the alarm. I have no written testaments, but I can prove that I was on the ground at this time by two respectable farmers who are above sixty years old, Capt. Barney Bunker a pensioner tells me that he knows something about [illegible] settlement with the state for my services. I cannot see why I am not entitled to a pension on the first act as a part of our officers were Continentals, Capt. Benjamin Wheaton who preceded Robbinson Capt. [illegible] were Continentals and how many more I cannot say, they told me in Providence that the ones that served in the fort at East Greenwich knew a pension [illegible] last of Haverskill N. H. their services were like mine
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If my services in Attleborough and Providence does not entitle me to a pension then I must look up more proof of my services on Taunton River which will be a hard case as there is nobody here that came from that quarter, my old neighbors in Attleborough told me Alden the Commissary received pay for my services as I was his man without doubt, as I stood sentinel on the seaboard three years and six months if you cannot call me a soldier of the revolution war I cannot tell what you will call me if you do not overlook those mistakes in my declaration I shall be in a bad [illegible] I hope you will consider how much harder is proof now than it was twenty years ago. The letter of the law sometimes killeth but the spirit maketh alive, there is several pensioners in the vicinity that I conversed with, and by what I can find out I did more toward carrying on the revolution war than either of them, if my services above mentioned prove good for anything and want more proof be so good as to let me know it.

Yours respectfully
your obedient service
(signature) Joseph Stanley

Mr. J. L. Edwards
Washington Pension Office
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31.704
Application for Pension
Joseph Stanley
of Greensboro
VT
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State of Vermont
Greensboro August 11 1836
Orleans County Then personally appeared
Thomas Tolman and Lois Tolman his wife
the signers of the foregoing deposition
and made solemn oath that the same
contained the truth and nothing but the
truth -  Before me Sebastian Taylor Justice of Peace
And in the subscribers generally certify that
Joseph Stanley is generally believed to have performed
the service set forth in his declaration, by his neighbors
and thence in the vicinity generally we are cheerfully
recommend him as a man of veracity to the favorable
consider of all whence this may concern having
had a personall
acquaintance with him for years
Stephen Sherman
Reuben Strong | Justices of 
Sebastian F. Taylor | the Peace
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State of Vermont ⎬ Greensboro August 18, 1836
Orleans County
I Joseph Stanley of Greensborough in
the County of Orleans and State of Vermont
aged sixty nine years, do upon oath depose and
say, that in the year of our Lord 1775. I 
volunteered
then with my fathers team (he being sick and
able to go) and assisted in removing cannon
from the foundry in Scituate. Rhode Island to
Roxbury, about fifty miles. In 1776 my father
died, and left me the only male in the family.
During the years 1776, 1777 & 1778 I of an
volunteered with a team, and assisted, in 
removing cannon, flour. Cable, Carriages for cannon
and provisions of all kinds, & earth to make Saltpeter
and in other preparations for the defence of our
county - As an instanir at the time the British
left Boston. I was one who volunteered to assist in
drawing cannon &c from Roxbury to Poughkeepsie in
the Hudson river. The saltpeter was made under the
agency of Esq Jinks of Pawtucket - In 1780
I went to Trenton as waiter to Ephraim Allen 
commissary, where I staid six or eight months acting in that
capacity. In 1781, I became sixteen years of age
and
of course liable to be draughted. I then left thence
to
enlist in the defence of her county, with my gun
and other equipments and went to Providence
R. Island, and caused my name to be enrolled
as a minute man, to defend the seaboard, I think
under Capt Noah Robinson, in a Regiment under
Col Thayer. As there never were any engagements
I cannot be positive of the names of the officers nor
of the numbers of the Regiment. I remained there
in that capacity until the close of the war during
which time, there were several alarms, but no
actual engagements. And I further say that I am
not able through infirmity to attend any court
of record, and that I never received any pension or other
equivalent or compensation from the United States or any
other source. My best judgment would be that I served eighteen
months besides my services as minute man - Joseph
Stanley
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State of Vermont | August 12, 1834
Orleans County ss
Then personally appeared Joseph Stanly
the subscriber of the foregoing declaration & deposition
and made solemn oath that the same contained
the truth, and nothing but the truth-
Before me Isaac Parker Judge
I Thomas Tolman of Hardwick County of
Caledonia and State of Vermont aged seventy seven
years a Lieutenant Infantry in the Regiment
Col Seth Warner of the army of the Revolution and
now receiving pay under the act of Congress of May
A.D. 1828. and I Lois Tolman wife of the said Thomas
jointly depose and say (no gentlemen of the Clergy being
easily obtained whose knowledge extends so fully to
the case) that we were well acquainted with 
Joseph
Stanley the foregoing applicant and deponent before
and at the commencement of the war of the Revolution
and was him and hence had to be of the 
age of sixty nine year years and our knowledge of
him and of his services in the Revolution & so
considerable, that we have no doubt of the truth
of his declaration. His reputation also for probity
and truth can never be called in question
where he is personally known
Tho. Tolman
Lois Tolman
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State of Vermont ⎬ Greensboro August 11 1836
Orleans County
Then personally appeared
Thomas Tolman and Lois Tolman his wife
the signers of the foregoing deposition
and made solemn oath that the same
contained the truth and nothing but the
truth. Before me Sebastian F. Taylor Justice of Peace 
And we the subscribers severally certify that
Joseph Stanley is generally believed to have performed
the services set forth in his declaration by his neighbours
and thence in the vicinity generally true we cheerfully
recommend him as a man of veracity to the favourable
consideration of all when this may concern having
had a personal acquaintance with him for years.
Stephen Sherman
Reuben Strong | Justices of
Sebastian F. Taylor | the Peace
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June 5/47
Relsto Olney
Joseph Pauley
Rose NY
May 31
Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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Rose New York
May 29th 1847.
Permit me to request
the favor of being informed
of the objections to the admission
of the claim of Joseph Stanley 
- an applicant for a pension
from Vermont
I am Respectfully,
Your Obt Servant
W. G. Wade
Hon JL Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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J.L. Edwards
Joseph Stanley
Act 32 Vt | June 21st
Inspr | 1847
Ex by Mr Wade
Lis 15 1820
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Pension Office
June12, 1847
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 29th allime, I
have to inform you that no additional evidence has
been received in the case of Joseph Stanley
since my report to him of 11th October 1838, a
copy of which is herewith enclosed. 
I am, Very respectfully,
your Oh. servant
J.L. Edwards
W.G. Wade, Esq.
Rose
New York
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Rejected
Vermont
Joseph Stanley
[illegible] claimant
23rd August 1834
do. to Lame, 11 Oct. 1834
to W.G. Wade June 12 '47
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10,053

Joseph Stanley
Rejected
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Greensboro Vermont
May 13th 1847
Sir,
This is to request that you will correspond with W. G. Wade of River N.Y. relative to the claim of Joseph Stanley an applicant for a pension under the Act of 7th June 1832, from the state of Vermont.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Polly Stanley

Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Comm. of Pensions
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Mary Stanley widow
of Joseph - Vt.
Act {2 rejected

W. G. Wade
4 class
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Power of attorney
State of Vermont County of Orleans} ss: Greensboro Nov. 15 '52.
Be it known, that before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Mary Stanley, a resident of Greensboro in the county of Orleans in the state aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, states that she is the widow of Joseph Stanley of Greensboro in the county of Orleans and State of Vermont who was a revolutionary soldier and that she believes the United States are still indebted, under existing laws, for the pension that was due under the application heretofore made, and that she is directly interested as a claimant in the pension for which application was heretofore made as aforesaid, and constitutes and appoints Willis G. Wade, of Washington D.D. her true and lawful attorney, with irrevocable power to examine into, investigate, and establish the claim for said pension, and do all acts necessary thereto. In witness whereof, Mary Stanley has on this 15th day of November 1852 hereunto signed her name and affixed her seal

(signature) Mary Stanley

Witness:
(signature) Elijah Austin 
(signature) Lawrene Austin

Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me, on this 15th day of November 1852

(Signature) Jabez Pinney