Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38997, for Rufus Pendock, Rhode Island
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Service Navy
Pendock, Rufus
Number S.38997
R.I. agency and residence
Contents
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19.419
Rhode Island
Rufus Pendock
of W. Greenwich in the State of R. Island who was a mariner in the Providence Frigate commanded by Captain Whipple [of the regiment commanded by Colonel in the struck out of text] R I U.S. Navy line for the term of one year RI from January 1778 to January 1779.
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 12 of April 1825.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of April 1825 and sent to Benj. Cowell Esq Providence RI.
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1825 $38.13
$38.13
Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818
and May 1, 1820
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[illegible] of 19.540
R. Pendock
Service Admitted
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United States of America.
County of Kent Rhode Island District Supreme Judicial Court October Term AD 1824
On this fifth day of October 1824 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record, Rufus Pendock aged 61 years, now resident of West Greenwich in said County of Kent, who being duly sworn, maketh the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions of the several Acts of Congress, enacted for the benefit of persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. Viz. said Rufus declares that in the month of January AD 1778 he entered as a mariner on board the Frigate Providence, under the command of Com. Abraham Whipple, then living in Providence. In April following, we sailed for France and fought our way through the British fleet off Newport. We arrived in France in May, and after remaining there about three months we sailed for the United Sates and arrived home in November, towards the latter part of the month at Boston, he continued on board until January 1779, when he was honorably discharged, but his discharge is lost. According to his best recollection, he served one year and seventeen days. - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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 my self 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 Sates, in the revolutionary war" passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. That I have no, nor has any
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any person in the trust of me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Schedule of property and income, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, of Rufus Pendock, Viz. said Rufus declares that he has no property of any description: That he has been, for the last five years, wholly dependent on charity for support. He formerly taught a school for support, but having become blind he was obliged to give up that business since that time, he has lived on charity, and he should have applied for a pension long ago if he had had anyone to assist him. he has a wife, but no other family. he is now entirely destitute and hopes his pension may be granted; his poverty has been occasioned by severe misfortune. 
Rufus X his mark [his mark is written above and below the X] Pendock 
Sworn to in open Court October 5th AD 1824.
Witness Nathan Whiting Clk
Kent [illegible] Clerk's Office of the Supreme Judicial Court.
I Nathan Whiting, Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court, that the said Rufus Pendock did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, under one engagement, on the Continental establishment. I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the Schedule thereunto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is nothing. And I further certify that the following depositions of the John Warner and Aaron Arnold, and the Certificates of the Magistrates before whom the same were taken are truly copied from the originals onfile in this Office duly compared by me. In testimony whereof, I have herunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, on this fourth day of November AD 1824
Nathan Whiting, Cleark S. J. Court Ken Country
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State of Rhode Island Secretary's Office
and Providence Plantations Jan 19 AD 1825
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden at Newport on the first Wednesday in May last Nathan Whiting was elected Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for the county of Kent; Benjamin Brown a Justice of Peace for the town of East Greenwich in said County and Henry Mansfield a Justice of the Peace for the town of Smithfield in the County of Providence; all for the term of one year, as [illegible] of record in this office; and that they have been commissioned accordingly
Witness Henry Bowen
Secry
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By his Excellency James Fenner Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
Be it know, That the name, "Henry Bowen," to the foregoing attestation subscribed, is the proper hand-writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of said State, duly elected, and qualified according to law: Wherefore, unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered. 
Given under my hand and the seal of said State, at Providence this 19th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five and of Independence the forty-ninth.
By His Excellency's Command
Henry Bowen
Secry
[an outline of seal is visible above By His Excellancy's Command]
J. Fenner
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State of Rhode Island and
County of Kent [illegible] Supreme Judicial Court April Seven AD 1825
On this twelfth day of April AD 1825 personally appeared in open Court, Rufus Pendock resident of West Greenwich in said County, who maketh this supplemental declaration in order obtain the provisions of the Acts of Congress, enacted for the benefit of the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army and Navy, viz. said Rufus declares in addition to his Declaration made before said Court at their last term, on the fifth day of October last past, that since the Eighteenth day of March 1818 he has not been possessed of any property of any description whatever, except what said Act of Congress authorizes Applicants to possess; that in consequence of being blind, he has been supported by charity and were it not that provisions are given him to subsist upon, he would be in a State of Starvation. However melancholly the fact this is his real situation and has been for some years past.
Rufus his X mark Pendock [his mark above and below X]
Witness John Brown
Sworn to in open Court April 12th 1825
Witness Nathan Whiting Clk
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Clerks Office Supreme Judicial Court
April 12th, 1825
I Nathan Whiting Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the original supplemental declaration on file in said Office duly compared by me. 
In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court on the day and year last aforesaid
Nathan Whiting Clk
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I John Warner of Coventry in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island, on oath certify and say that in the month of December 1777, I entered as a Gunner on board the Frigate Providence under the command of Com. Whipple and continued on board of her until she was taken by the enemy in Charleston So. Carolina in 1780 and the Deponent further says that he well remembers Rufus Pendock who was a mariner on board said Frigate - said Rufus entered on board about a month after he did when said Frigate was lying in Providence and went to France and returned in her - said Frigate arrived back from France at Boston, according - his best recollection in November 1778 and he well remembers that said Pendock continued on board some time afterwards and was honorably discharged. These facts are within his perfect recollection, as he has known said Rufus ever since the war. 
John Warner
County of Kent in East Greenwich Oct 5th 1824
Personally appeared before me, the above named John Warner and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him signed and I further certify that said Deponent is well known to me, and he is a credible Witness, being a man of truth and veracity.
Benj Brown Just Peace
I Aaron Arnold of Smithfield in the County of Providence, on oath, testify and say, that in the month of December 1777 I entered on board the Frigate Providence under the command of Com. Abraham Whipple as a Mariner and continued on board of her until her capture in 17780 [as written, not in error]: and I further testify and say that I well remember a man by the name of Rufus Pendock who was a mariner on board said Frigate: said Rufus entered
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on board as early as January 1778 when said Frigate was lying in Providence, and continued on board of her until she went to France and back and for several months afterwards and was not discharged until January 1779 when he was honorably discharged. All these facts are within my perfect recollection. 
Aaron Arnold
Providence in Smithfield Oct 30th 1824. Personally appeared before me, the above named Aaron Arnold and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed. And I further certify that said Deponent is personally well known to him and he is a credible witness, being a man of truth
Henry Mansfield, Justice of the Peace
[The following is written in the opposite direction]
Attestation of 19.540 R Pendock
Service Admitted
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Invalid
Rev Navy
File No. 38997
Rufus Pendock
Mariner
Frigate "Providence"
Revolutionary
Acts March 18 1818 and May 1 1820
Index: Vol. Page
Arrangement of 1870
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Providence April 13 1825
Sir
I herewith return the papers in the claim of Rufus Pendock together with his additional declaration in Court as to his property since 18th of March 1818. Agreeably to your [illegible] of 5th instant I take the liberty to observe that in going to attend the Court I called at his residence although some distance out of my way - and I think I can [illegible] to say that I never saw such an appearance of poverty and wretchedness in my life. There was not a single glass light in the house or hardly
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almost in a state of starvation during the winter past but upon being informed that the probability was that he would obtain his pension he revived up & made an effort to attend court. In conclusion I would observe that what I have written is plain matter of fact without colouring & what I am willing to attest under oath if required. I do hope sir that his name may speedily be admitted on the Roll from Oct 5th 1824 when he first made application.
I am respectfully [illegible]
Benje Cowell 

J L Edwards Esq.