Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21420, for Enos Peckham, Rhode Island
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[Form Identification Number] (8-1776)

[Heading] SERVICE
[Below Heading - Initials by hand] R.J.

[Next column] Peckham, Enos
[Heading] NUMBER
S. 21420

[Below] CONTENTS [no entries made]
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1748 [possibly 1749 - the last number is smeared] 
Rhode Island
Enos Peckham
Newport in the State of R Island
who was a Private in the company commanded
Captain Isaac Cook of the reg't [regiment] commanded by
Col Jn Cook [ Colonel John Cook?] in the R. Island
[illegible] for one year and six months

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of Sixty Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th
day of March
1832 and sent H. Y.
Granston Newport R. Island
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $90 -
Semi-anl [semi-annual] allowance ending 4 
March ''33  [dollar amount entered] 30 - 
[total amount paid] $120

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book D Vol. 3 Page 129
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late of Rhode Island &
Town and County of Newport
On this fifteenth day of September
AD 1832. Personally appeared in open Court, before the Court
Probate now in session.
Enos Peckham, a resident of said
Newport, County and State aforesaid, aged ninety nine 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 7th 1832. [the year as written is odd - the 8 looks as if entered on its side - this Pension act was approved in 1832 so I entered the year as 1832]
That he was born and
which was then a part of Newport
the now [word "now" entered as superscript above the sentence] town of Middletown which was then a part of Newport [the phrase "which was then a part of Newport" was entered as superscript above the sentence]
in the State of Rhode Island on the
twentieth day of May AD 1733, but has no record of his age, it having been lost during the revolutionary [sic] War In the month of December 1776, he then residing in the town of Trenton in the State aforesaid, and being enrolled in a company of Militia commanded by Capt Isaac Cook which company was attached to the regiment of Rhode Island Militia whereof John Cook was Colonel, said company was drafted to serve in two divisions, alternatly [sic] vis One half of said Company for one month and the other half thereof the next month, and said Company was in service as aforesaid from said December 1776 until the later part of the year 1779, and were stationed at said Trenton and employed in guarding the shores of said Trenton against the incursions of the British troops who had possession during that time of the Island of Rhode Island, your memorialist was attached to said Company during all the above said time which [continued next page]
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was about three years, and regularly took his tour of duty, and did actual duty as aforesaid in all about 
Eighteen months in said Twerton aforesaid.
and after this Expedition in Peleg Simmons Company of Rhode Island Since the revolutionary war he has mostly resided in said Newport and does now reside in said Newport, he never received
any written discharge from said service but was verbally discharged with the others belonging to said Company by the officer commanding. he does not recollect any Continental or militia regiments other than as above, and
does not recollect any officers of the Continental army who were with said company during any time while he was in service, and Ephraim Macomber and William Cook
whose testimony is hereto annexed can and does testify to his services as is herein set forth, and refers to Revd Michael Eddy and William Lee
both of said Newport for his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. he hereby relinquishes every claim
ever 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.

Enos  X  Peckham [written name Enos Peckham with an "X" entered by a different hand placed between "Enos" and "Peckham", with the words "his" and "mark" above and below the "X"]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
witness Benj B Hossland Prob Clk [Benjamin B. Hossland Probate Clerk]
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We Michael Eddy a  Clergyman residing in the Town of Newport, State of Rhode Island
and William Lee residing in the same Newport
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Enos
Peckham who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration, that we believe him to be Ninety Nine 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.
Michael Eddy Pastor
of the First Baptist Church of Newport
 Wm Lee
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Benj B Hossland Probate Clk [Benjamin B. Hossland ]

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 Michael Eddy who has signed the preceding certificate is a  clergyman resident in the town of Newport aforesaid,
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and that William Lee who has also signed the same is a resident in said Newport, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Benjamin B. Hossland Clerk of the Court of Probate of said Newport do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Enos Peckham for a pension

Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office
this fifteenth day of September
AD Eighteen hundred and thirty
two
Benj B Hossland Probate Clk [Benjamin B. Hossland ]
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N. 7383
Enos Peckham of Newport R. I.
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BRIEF in the case of
Enos Peckham of the County of Neuport 
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? [no entry]
3. How old is he? 99 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
In 1776 Decr to ┃
the latter part of 79

Duration of Service.
Years 1 Months 6 Days [No entry].
Rank.
As a
Private
Names of General and field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Col. Jnr Cook [Colonel John Cook ], Capt Isaac Cook,
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Tiverton R. I. [Rhode Island]
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Regular
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
Sevin Belt [first name may be incorrect]
Examining Clerk.
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I Ephraim Macomber of Tiverton in the County of Newport
and State of Rhode Island aged Eighty two years, on solemn oath
depose and say, that I was well acquainted with Enos [name blotched with ink] Peckham
now residing in Newport, in the revolutionary war, he then
lived in said Tiverton and in the same house with me, and
was enrolled in the lower or first company of Militia in said
Town, to which I also belonged. during the time the British
had possession of Newport, a part of the militia of said Tiverton was continually on duty guarding the shores, from the
incursions of the enemy, according to the best of my recollection about one half of a company was drafted at a time
and generally a month at a time, said Enos Peckham's turn
come when I was off duty and I recollect we used to
assist each other in taking care of and seeing to each others
families he used to see to my family when I was drafted
and I to his when he was drafted; and further this Deponent saith not-
Ephraim Mcomber [signature]

Newport Sc. at Tiverton September 13th 1832
Personally came the above named Deponent and made
Solemn Oath to the truth of his aforegoing [sic] Deposition and
Subscribed the same -
And I further certify that said
Deponent is personally known to me and sustains a good
character for truth and veracity -
Before me, Asa Grey [spelled with an "e"] Justice of the Peace
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Newport [said] Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas for the County
aforesaid 13th September 1832.
I certify that Asa Gray Esq whose signature
affixed, in his own proper hand writing to the above and annexed
attestation is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Tiverton in said County
duly commissioned under the Seal of said State, and otherwise
qualified as such.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and affixed the seal of said Court the
day and year above written 
H. J. Cranston Clerk
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William Cook of Tiverton in the County of Newport and
State of Rhode Island &c aged Seventy six years on solemn oath
depose and say, that I was acquainted with Enos Peckham
at the time of the revolutionary war, he then resided in
Tiverton & belonged to the same company of Militia with
me when I was in the militia. I recollect of his serving in
the militia on duty at the shore in said Tiverton. several
times, in the Company of Capt Isaac Cook, or in detachments from said Company, which were sometimes under the
Command of Lieutenant Cory, or Ensign Philip Manchester, he was in the Company of Captain
Peleg Simmons [Simmon's information was written above two words that were lined out - see note by Clerk at end of this document] on Rhode Island after Sullivans Expedition, and I was in the same Company, but how long he then served
I cannot now recollect, said Enos Peckham, I am informed now lives in Newport and is an applicant for a
pension under the late act of Congress, and must be very aged as I recollect he was much older than myself and further this deponent saith not-
(the words " Peleg Simmons" interlined and the word "Isaac Cook.
erased before subscribing
William Cook [signature of William Cook]
Newport Sc. At Tiverton September 13th 1832
Personally came the above named Deponent and made
solemn oath to the truth of his aforegoing Deposition, and subscribed the same -
And I further certify that said
Deponent is personally known to me and sustains a good character for truth and veracity Before me Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
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N. 7383
Enos Peckham of Newport R. I.

Private  
Admitted 1 year 6 month 
[initials] BVB
$ 60-

Rced 26 Sept 1832

[signature] H G [illegible last name] E

[lined out text "Clairmont"]
Newport [entered over lined out text by same hand as signature]
RI [over written lighter text "Newport RI"]
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Enos Peckham  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 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
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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 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."
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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 for 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 be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
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.
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NEWPORT
BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION.
January AD 1897
Hon Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C. [large initial "P" entered to the right - different hand]
Sir: I am under the
impression that my
great grandfather Enos
Peckham of Newport Rhode
Island was a Revolutionary
Pensioner.
How can I obtain evidence of the fact?
Please advise and oblige
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant ┃
Edwin S. Burdick
Box 433
Newport, R.I.
[entered by different hand and initial - the letter "P"]
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[Bifold document - left page:]

[diagonally entered by hand "Revolution"]
21420
INVALID.

File No. 21,420
Enos Peckham
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 317
[Arrangement of 1870.}

[Bifold document - right page:]

Feby 16. 1897 History
Edwin Burdick
Newport, R. I
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This Bureau can furnish the military
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay
rolls of the Revolutionary War and the
War of 1812 as are now in the possession
of the Government are on file in the
Record and Pension Office, War Department
. Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolutionary
War may also be fo
und on file in the
archives of many of the original States.

O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
L. W. B.
I, 21420.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
February 16, 1897.

Sir: - Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Enos Peckham, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on September 15, 1832,
at which time he was 99 years of age and residing at Newport, R. I.
and his pension was allowed for one year and six months' actual service
as a private in the R. I. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the
time he served under Capt, Isaac Cook and Col. John Cook. He enlisted
at Tiverton, R. I.

Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

[replying to:]
Mr. Edwin Burdick,
Newport, R. I.
P. O. Box 433.