Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 38541, Prince Bent, R.I.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE  
R.I. 
 [stamp of star shape] 
 Bent, Prince  
 NUMBER
 S 38541

CONTENTS
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38541
Revy INVALID. om
File No. 38,541
Prince Bent
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 March 18
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Prince Bent
S. 509
Sept. 1819
Cont'd
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State of Rhode-Island & Providence-Plantations.
WASHINGTON, sc -- Court of Common Pleas, Special Term, A. D. 1820
On this fifth day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court,
being a Court of Record within and for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c.
Prince Bent aged Sixty Years
residing in the Town of Hopkinton in said County who being first duly
sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: --
first in the Regiment commanded by Col. Greene and
Afterwards under Col. Olney for the space of five years and
six months when he was honorably discharged
That he made a previous Declaration on the Seventeenth day of April 1818, and
that he has received a certificate for a pension, being No. 8509 -- And in pursuance of the Act of Congress, passed May 1st, 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on
the 18th day of March, 1818; 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 myself 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 States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818;
And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due
to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me
subscribed.
Prince Bent his X mark
A SCHEDULE of Property and Income, ( necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of
Prince Bent (to Wit) 2 Small Swine Six old Chairs 1 Iron
Pott and 1 Tea Kettle 3 Tubs and 2 pails 1 old Table 6 Earthen
plates 6 cups & Saucers & Tea pott Some trifling other Crockery
Ware Two Old Barrels 1 Woolen Wheel 1 hoe & three tin pans
6 Knives and forks one Stone Jug. That he is by profession
a Labourer that he is severely affected with Rheumatism so
much as to have almost lost the use of his limbs that he is
unable to Labour and wholly dependant on his Country
for support
Pence Bent his X mark
Sworn to and declared, on the fifth day of July 1820 before said
Court
Witn. Saml Helme Clk of Court
Washington, sc. Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas. A D 1820
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of
Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Scedule
thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records of said Court:--And I do further certify, that it is the
opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is
Nine Dollars, and Fifty Two Cents.--
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this
Sixth Day of July 1820
Sam. Helme Clerk of said Court
$9.52 6th
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It appears by the Regimental Book, That Prince Bent, a colored man,
residing in Hopkinson in this State, on the third day of March 1778 enlisted
into the Army of the United States a Private Soldier to serve during the
war. That he did serve from the time of his inlistment aforesaid in
the Regiment commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene and afterward
by Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Jeremiah Olney in the Rhode
Island line in the Continental Establishment, until the fifteenth day
of June 1783 when he received a Furlough, which eventuated in an absolute discharge from the service of the United States and said Regiment
at Saratoga in the State of New York.
Providence February 22nd 1819.
Jno. L. Dexter Major of
said Regiment at the close of the
Revolutionary War
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State of Rhode Island
On this Seventeenth day of April 1818, before me the
Subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the
County of Washington in said State
Personally appears Prince Bent a man of colour (being
Born in Africa his age cannot be ascertained but he is far advanced)
resident in Hopkinton in the County and State aforesaid
who being by me first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on
his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled An act
to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval
Service of the United States in the revolutionary War --
That he the said Prince Bent enlisted (in March 1778) in Hopkinton in the County and State aforesaid under Lieut. David
Johnson joined the company commanded by Capt. Elijah Lewis
in Colo Green's Regament (after commanded by Col. Olney)
then at East Greenwich; that he continued to serve in said corps
or in the service of the United States, until about June 1783
as near as he can recollect
when he was discharged from service in Albany (at the hospital
in the State of New York) that his certificate certifyd [sic] that
he served five years three months and some days. That he
Carried his Furlow [sic] in his Pocket got it wet and it come to
Pieces. That he was in the Battle on Rhode Island in
Sullivans Expedition. That he was after words taken prisoner
by the enemy on guard at Quitnisit Neck he was carried to
Newport where he was a prisoner about Eight months
then carried to Holmeses hole Martha’s Vineyard where he
& four others in the night Stole a boat and made their
escape to New Bedford and joined the army again at East 
Greenwich. That he was in the Battle at York Town at the
Taking of Corn Wallace that he wintered in Philadelphia
was at Plank Paint Saratoga Swago &c.
That he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of
the assistance of his country for support, and that he has no
other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year
aforesaid
Personally appears Col Thomas Hayes
of Westerly in the County and State aforesaid and under
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Oath declares he has been acquainted with the said Prince
Bent from a Boy. That he was knowing to his Enlistment
often saw him while a soldier in Col. C. Green's
Regament [sic]. That he the said Thomas Hayes was a Lieut.
In the Army at the same time
I Daniel Babcock Judge O C as aforesaid, do
Certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said
Prince Bent did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony
taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress
Given under my hand and seal of office the day and year
aforesaid
[seal]
Daniel Babcock, judge of Court Common Pleas
I certify that Daniel Babcock Esq is one
Of the justices of said Court and that
the Seal here [illegible] is the true seal
thereof.
Witness  Thomas R. Wells [illegible] of said court
May 5, 1818
State of Rhode Island 
Washington County SS I hereby certify that the within
named Prince Bent a man colour, who from
the best information I can obtain is about sixty four
years is a man in Indigent circumstances
and stands in need of the assistance of his Country
for his support.
Given under my hand at Westerly this 5th day of March 1819
Amos Cross C. J. C. C. Pleas
Washington SS }
State of Rhode Island &c
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas Mar.   1819
I certify that the Honble Amos Cross whose Signature
is hereto affixed is Chief Justice of the Court aforesaid
Legally Chosen and qualified as the Law requires that
full faith and credit ought to be given to his certificate
throughout the United States & Elsewhere that the seal here
impressed is the true Seal of sd Court Will Sam Helme Clk
[vertically at left]
Declaration of Prince Bent
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Westerly March 18   Free
Hon. John C. Calhoun
Sec'y. of War
Washington
old case
Adm'd.
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Wisterly March 27 1819
Sir,
Herewith I transmit to the Secy [secretary]
of War the Declaration of Prince
Bent a man of collour [color] with the Evidence
in support of his claim for a Pension
with the highest respect
I am Sir your very humble
Servt [servant]

Amos Cross