Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17766, Stephen Westcott, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
R. I.

Westcott, Stephen

NUMBER
S. 17766


carded.
Page 2

4286
Rhode Island
Stephen Westcott
of Providence in the State of RI
who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain -- of the regt commanded by Col Green in the RI
line for 6 Mos 15 Days

Inscribed on the Roll of R I
at the rate of 21 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to  commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Jany 1833 and Sent Benja Cowell Providence RI

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832      $32.49
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33   10.83
                                                   $43.32

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J H McBlair Clerk
Book D   Vol. 3(?)  Page 140.
Page 3

No. 13.151

Stephen Westcott

Private

6 Mos & 15 days
adm


$21.66


Benjn. Cowell Esqr.
Providence R. I.
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Stephen Westcott of the County of Providence in the State of R. Island
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  69 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
In 1780 June
" 81 Summer

Duration of Service.
5 Months, 15 Days
1 Month

Rank. 
As a Private
&".

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Col. Green, Capt. Snow
Col. Kimball, Capt. Rhodes

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Warwick

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the roll?  Deposition

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?
no Clergyman's Certificate

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Levin Belt
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

Stephen Westcott

13. 151
Page 6

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Rhode-Island District, sc.  August Term 1832
County of Providence

On this Seventh day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session-- Stephen Westcott a resident of Scituate in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 69 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, viz. That he entered the service of the United States under the following names officers, and served as herein stated.

was born February 17th 1763 in Warwick R. I. which is on record in that town & lived in Coventry when he enlisted & served the war has lived mostly in Scituate where he now lives
and the applicant further States that he enlisted a private in June 1780 in Capt Snows company & Col Christopher Greene's regiment of the Continental Army for six months and served five months & an half & was stationed on Rhode Island -- and the applicant further States that he again enlisted as a private in the Summer 1781 for One month in Capt James Rhodes company & Col Stephen Kimballs regiment and was stationed at Brenton creek on Rhode Island -- all which he served out and was honourably discharged ---
never received any written discharge
Page 7

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his names is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  Stephen  his X mark  Westcott
attest B Cowell clk

I Joseph Carpenter residing in Scituate hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Stephen Westcott who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be 69 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 I concur in that opinion.
Joseph  his X mark  Carpenter
 Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
attest B Cowell Clk

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 named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joseph Carpenter who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the town of Scituate (Rhode Island) and that Edmond Coloin who testified for the declarant is resident as he states that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Westcoatt for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this third day of October AD 1832
Benjamin Cowell Clerk

[seal affixed to page]
Page 8

P       17766

INVALID.

File No. 17, 766

Stephen Westcott

Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7" 32

Index :--Vol. 1, Page 481

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 9

No. 13151

Stephen Westcott









Benjn. Cowell Esqr.

Providence R. I.
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Westcott which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  yes

V.  * Has he mentioned 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?  yes

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  yes
Page 11

                                2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  no

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  no

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.  +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  yes

XVI.  + Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  yes


EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V.  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 the the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less that 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."
Page 12

                                     3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.

+QUERE XIV.  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 claimants 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.

+QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.
Page 13

I Edmund Colvin of Coventry in the County of Kent on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Stephen Westcott of Scituate in the County of Providence and I further testify that said Stephen enlisted into the company of Capt Snow in Col Christopher Greens regiment of Continental Troops of the Rhode Island line - in June 1780 for six months said Stephen and myself both lived in the same tent during our enlistment I belonged to the same company that he did and regiment was stationed on Middleton hill on Rhode Island -- Edmund Colvin
1832
July 19th Sworn to before me--
Benjn Cowell
Commpr Dist Court
R I Dist