Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11472, John Whitman, R.I.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
R. I
CONTENTS
Whitman, John
Hannah
NUMBER
S
2.11472
Page 2

9.771
Ark
John Whitmer
of Onendages in the State of New York
who was a pri in the commanded
by Captain in bar of the 19th commanded
by Col Hitcheny in the Rhode Island
line for 8 mos
2
---
1836
---
Transf from Albany to C.
Petts March 835
March 1838-
Inscribed on the Roll of All
the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum.
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of ┃
1841
and it is
Tyley
Arrears to the 4th of Sept
1
in allowance ending 4 Mch 13.23
$100.
Recorded by
Book & Vol.
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
By Clerk,
Page &
---
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of
Congress, passed June 7th 1832
State of New York
Onondaga County ⎬ On this 28th day of May 1834 person
---
ally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas any general sessions of the
peace Whitman a resident of the Town of
Lysander in the County of Onondaga and State of
New York aged seventy seven years the 4th day of last
June, who being first duly sworn according to
doth, on his oath, make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832- That he entered the service of the
United States under the following named officers, & served
as herein stated. That in the year 1775 as declarant believes
and in the month of April, he enlisted into Captain St
phen Kimballs company which was attached to Col Hitt
Regiment, who lived them in Providence Rhode island State.
& declarant then resided in the town of Situate in the same
state, in which company Jonathan Smith was his
tenant. & Nehemiah Angel was his Ensigns & hath lived
situate aforesaid. Ezekiel Cornwall, of situate was
Lieutenant Colonel, and the Majors name was Aid &
lived in North Providence or Smithfield, and the said com
pany was mustered at Providence, & were marched to
Roxbury in Massachusetts, passing through Cumberland
Walpole, & Dedham & were first employed building a
Fort cust of Roxbury Meeting house-- when this was
done at Roxbury, where the company joined the Regiment
under Col Kitcheck the men were employed in the day
time, erecting a Fort at Brooklyn & when this was
finished, all the Rhodeisland forces were marched under
command of General Green, to prosplethell where the
men built another post, the declarant remained in the
ance at Prosputhell, till the nine months for which
he enlisted was nearly expired, but a few days before
that time, the Declarant was sick with Campdistemper
& went to the hospital in consequence of which he warder
charged in writing by Major General Sea on some one of the
last days of that year in the month of December, having
an from home on this tour of service, Nine & a half months
Page 4

M.
14
In April 1776 there was a call for men to go to Warwick
to watch the enemy who came in these to plunder, and
the declarant turned out & went there, & served one Month
under Captain Jeremiah Davis of Situate, Lieutenant Isaac
Payne of the same place, and the company mustered as
wick, found their own Arms & drawed their rations at
that place, where he served one month & were discharged
then & went home the ships of the enemy having disappear
- In October the same year 1776 he enlisted into a compa
my of minutemen commanded by Captain Stephen Shee
do of Situate, George Dorrance was his Lieutenant
and went immediately to Newport Island, & joined the
Company about two miles Each of the Town of Newport
where it was mustered, & I since another Company of minutemen
but the declarant cannot remember the names of any other
Officers - That these companies remained there on duty till
February 1777 & were then dismissed when Declarant
turned home, having served four months, but was gone
from home four and one fourth months, having to by
way of Providence for his pay, making the fouring home
more than fifty miles that he received half a dollar a
day for this service, which was the only pay he ever
for his services, after he left Massachusetts as aforesaid
The following service of the declarant was in a company
commanded by Lieutenant Jonathan Smith before
mentioned, in which John Cale was another Lieutenant
as declarant thinks - this company was called the situate
hunters, and was not attached to any Regiment but were
considered & employ the same as minute men the de
clarant enlisted into this company under the
on to Newport Island, when General Spence under
to retake Newport Island, but he cannot recollect the
year from any other circumstance, but believes the month
was in August or September, and the company collected
at Providence, where boats and making to assover
to the Island on & at night Smiths company took a boat
went to Warren, as did also the other companies as fast as the
bouts could be made, & from Warren the boats were carried
Page 5

M
At
acress by land in the night, & put into Siskank river, and
all went down that river & were secured in a channel
called the Gate from her Smith company went to little
Compton to be upon the task out-- & returned back to the
boats, expecting to cross over that night, but a Shrock
at sent up from Gen Spencers house or near there, alarmed
the Enemy on the Island who fired alarm Guns from their
ships & Forts on the Island, & thereupon the Officers refused to
go over & the men were dismissed and the declarant returned
home in October or November, having been out & served as
much as two months-- Before or after the last mentioned
tour, the declarant, then belonging to Captain Davis Com
pany of a militia, went with said Company on a general
all for men by Governor Bradford of Rhodisland, through old
Providence to the Town of Bristol in that State, to secure
the share that had been brought from Newport Island and
restored at Bristol - The said Company went there the
first of October the year that our men retreated from Newport
Island to Bristol with the said stores, but the declarant can
not others designate the than by the
before related, but he is sure it was before Sullivans
expedition on that Island. There were several other and
panies, from Smithfield, Gloucester & other parts of the State at
Bristol, one of which was commanded by Captain Samuel
Knight, and on or about the Fort of February they under
charged and declarant served as aforesaid on this law four
months - In the year of Sullivan attack of the British on
Newport Island, but declarant cannot remember the year
an half of the men of the State of Rhodeisland able to hear
arms, were called out to go under him in that expedition
and declarant saved the same hand and Lieutenant on
Nathan Smith, which company was attached to Glovers Brigade
of Newhampshire, in the month of August at Newport Island,
and he remained there & did duty one month, and the
all discharged as soon as the other half of the militia came
on to do their tour of service, which was but a day or two
before the battle, which the declarant heard on his way
home where he arrived after an absence on duty of one
month and a half - this suit in the State
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17
quit there was an alarm occasioned by some movements of
the Enemy ships, and the militia company of Situate former
by commanded by Captain Davis, was called out & command
ed by Captain Isaac Pain & Lieutenant John Cale, and the
declarant went with the company which was stationed
in a Meetinghouse between Warren & Bristol, to guard
these places, and the country around, where the enemy had been
& plundered, and took ten little ways prisons and
carried them away-- the said company took amman
tion at Providence on the way out, & remained at said
Meeting house & did guard duty under said officers
one month & over, making a month & a quarter that
he was gone from home, where he arrived the last of Sept
ember & moved his grass which had some entirely dead
At the time the French shipping was in Newport her
ber, in the year is forgotten by the declarant, at
Kimbal, before named, who was then at Newport, made
call for his men to come, and aid in removing the continental
stores, under a public affer of three Dollars boun
ty & declarant volunteered to go, and went to Newport
and was stationed on Brenton, Point, at a house called
the four chimney house, under Captain Mason, there
1
for thirty or forty men there here remained a
bout three weeks before there was a call for men to go
aboard a vessel loaded with stores, as a guard, which was
bound to Earthaddam where fifteen men among whom
was the declarant, who volunteered to go alward as
such guard left the reful, & went ashore with at
Maxon, & went across by land from Earthadam, home
a distance of sixty miles, whose declarant arrived
an absence of fire when
of all the same above detailed as to the fact of having
faithfully performed the whole, & has truly stated the
without doubt or nation, excepting as to dates and
on this point, he cannot rect his memory
positively-- and the foregoing services, the declarant
hereof and paid for two times of some of one month each,
at times when he was called on & could not leave his family
Page 7

3 M
of
that he was out also, one cruise in a private, commanded
by Thomas Childs, & was gone over three months, on board
of the 12 Gunbrig Industry-- The declarant was in no battle
except when on board of said Printer, which fought three
half days in succession, with a heavy ship of the Enemy
and had two men killed about twenty wounded, but
failed of capturing the enemy, by reason of the Captain
being drunk. His company was among the troops who lay
at Roxbury in view of the Bunkerhill Battle - He has no
done mentary Evidence, nor does he know of any person living
whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service
Nor does he know of any Clergyman, he can procure who knows
the character of the declarant as a revolutionary soldier by
part or reputation, except one living in Cayuga
he cannot be procured without considerable trouble pence
& inconvenience. In answer to the interrogatories prescribed
by the War department the declarant says
That he was born in Situate, Providence County, State of
island, in the year 1756
2 He knows of no record of his age-
He was living, when he was called into the service in situate, for
seed & since the revolutionary War, he has lived in the Counties
of Windsor, and Addison in Vermont, in Camillus Onandagalan
ty Cato, Cayuga County, State of Newyork, & now lives in Lyon
der Onondaga County.
-
4 When he was called into the service he volunteered
4
He states the names of Gen Putnam, Cal Church, Captain Olney.
Blackman, Aldridge and Talbot, as officers he recollects at Rox
bury & Prosputhill, besides these name before - General Washing
ton, Lee, & Green also - and the general see & the circumstance
attending it are state aforesaid
He never received a written discharge except the one from Gen
eral Lee, before mentioned, which was in a pocket book which he
last in the fall of the year, & after the snow left in the spring
the Whit back & dischared were found, in said town of State
but both were rather & sparted
Negues the names of David Monroe Er Richard Sullivan
John Buchanan
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Pensioner: Hannah Whitman
Page 8

State
the last
To
as persons to whom the declarant is known in his prest
neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for
veracity, and their belief of his services as a revolutionary solder
. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever, to a
pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that
his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
The declarant further states that he was not informed of the act of 7th June 1832 Kill about
year the he should have made this application before--
Sworn to and subscribed the day - John Whitmer
and year aforesaid Erasures and interliniations at A.B.C.D.E. F.G.
H. J. John Land were made before signing
R. L. Hess Clerk
We David Marral of Camillus in the County of Onondaga
and Richard Sullivan residing in the Town of Lysander
in said County hereby certify, that we are naught have been
the count of twenty years past, at different times near
neighbors to John Whitman and are well acquainted with
him, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
, that we believe him to be seventy seven years old and
that he has long been reputed and believed, in the neighbor
hood where he has heretofore resided, to have been
a soldier of the revolution, & that we fully concur in
that opinion - that the said Sullivan now resides about a
mile + a half from said Whitman, & said Marra now &
sides about three miles from him, but has heretofore had
as near as two miles from him for several years-
Sworn and subscribed the day David Munro
and year aforesaid
interlineation at and before sign R. Sullivan
B. L. Hess Clerk
of Onondaga County
And the said Court do herby declare their opinion, after
the investigation of the matter, and after putting the inter
rogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary soldier served
as he states. And the Court further certifies that it ap
pears to them that David Manral who has signed the pre
ceeding certificate is a resident in the Town of Camille
Page 9

and Richard Sullivan who has also signed the same
is a resident in the Town of Lysander, and are credible
persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
And they further certify that the said applicant can
not procure a Clergyman to certify as prescribed by the
War department, without more expense & inconvenience
than he is able to sustain-
John Watson
⎬
Allen Judge
George Pettit
I Reuben Less Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
and general sessions of the peace, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court of Common Pleas, in the matter of the ap
plication of John Whitman for a pension.-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this
29th day of May in the year 1834
R. L. Hess Clerk
Page 10

&
&
John Whitman
Pension Application
31297
George Pettit of
Fabius Onondaga County
N.Y. his Agent.
.
1
&
Hon
W. Taylor
Page 11

Jonathan Smith Affidavit
Cost $1000
Page 12

'---
I Jonathan Smith of Scituate in the County
of Providence & State of Rhode Island being now
in the 8th year of age on solemn oath do testify
and say that in the year 1775 I was a Lieutenant
in Captain Stephen Kimballs company & in
Col. Hitchcocks Regiment & served in said
pacity during my enlistment of Eight months
April to the last of December of that year
and I further certify that I well remember a
man by the name of John Whitman who was
1
a private in the same company & served
during that time. The all enlisted about the same
time and I was well acquainted with said
John before his enlistment & know that he
served as above mentioned said John then
resided in that part of Seituate which is now
called Foster and I knew him well said
John thatly other was removed to the State of
New York where he now lives or and
land
Page 13

And I the said Jonathan do further testifythat

in the year 1777 I was a Lieutenant in a
Company of Minute men called the Scituate
Hunters & served in Spencers expedition
against the British then in possession of her
continue a Lieutenant until the end of the
war & according to the best of my recollection
said John belonged to that Company also &
as such he must have performed much service
in said year + as long as he continue to belong
to it. I do not remember when he joined it
or when he left it, from my knowledge of the man
I have not the least doubt he performed service
in every year during the war and as much as
fom Smiths each year during the time the
1
-
British held possession of Newport. Said
1
John when I knew him was a man of good
character & I never heard any thing to the
contrary since his removal to New York
Jonathan Smith
Page 14

the
Providence in Scituate acta C. AD 1834
personally appeared Jonathan Smith and submited and
made oath to the foregoing statement. Boren in
And further certify that I am well acquainted with
the said Jonathan Smith and In is a very Respectable
man and a lundable witness
Josiah Westett Justice of the
Court of Common Pleas in
the County & Providen
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence -
Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas within & for said County
being a Court of Record, do hereby certify
that Josiah Wisteth before the preceding
affidavit was sworn is a Justice of said
Court duly authorised and qualified to
act as such: That the signature above
is the proper signature of the said
---
Westcott and that full credit are
due to the official act & attestations
of the said Westerth
In testimony Whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed
the seal of said Court of Providence
this Seventh day of October
1834
Dexter Randall Clk
-
Page 15

31297
John Whitman
within
See Mr Taylors letter
Ada
more
$26.66
Hon W. Taylor
Page 16

John Whitman Pension
Papers of Sysander
Onondaga County N. B.
George Pettit of
Fallens - Agent
Hon
Wm Taylor
Page 17

a
Cam
of New York
of Orange ⎬ On this 3 day of December 1834 personally appeared be
for George Pettit a Judge of County Courts in and for said County, John
Whitman of Lysander in said County, who being duly sworn before the
said Judge, according to law, did depose & say, that he is the appli
cant for a pension under the Law of Congress of June 7th 1844 in a
declaration sworn to by deponent, in the Court of Common pleas
in and for said County, on the 28th of May 1884, which declaration
was forwarded to the war department, & returned thence with life
tions for want of specification as to dates, commencement
& duration of the several law declared for & as contained in
Letter from the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions, to George Pettit
the deponent Agent, dated June 17th 1834, in reply to which objection
the deponent depons and says that now & for a number of years
past he has suffered greatly from readily infirmity, and that his
mental powers are greatly imprice, & name of them more than
his memory & recollection, but the series therein declared for
by deponent, were actually performed, & are still impressed upon
his mind from the tails & hardships he endured & the places at
which he served & & the officers named in his said declaration
all which are distinctly recollected now "But that by reason of
old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot severe posi
tively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the
best of his recollection he said not less than the periods men
tioned hereafter as follows In 1775- Eight Month 1776 One Month
in 1776 and beginning of 1777 for & one forbeth Martha In 1779 after the last
mentioned to the Month - At Bristol under Capt Davis four months
M Newport under Lieutenant Smith as stated in his affidavit one &
a half month. At the Meetingham between Warren & Bristol under
Captain Pain One & one fourth month at Britam point under Capt
Aaron One & one fourth Month making in all one year Eleven
and seven days that he same as a private & for such service deponent
18
claims a pension, & further says not John Pitman
Sworn to and subscribed the day
& year aforesaid before me
George Pettit Judge of a
andage County Courts
Page 18

is at Newark
.
State of New York
County
Reuben L. Hess Clerk of the County
of Onondaga and Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas of said County do certify that George
Pettit Esquire before whom the preceding
affidavit purports to have been sworn was at
the date of the same one of the Judges of the Onondaga County
Courts duly appointed and qualified and that I am acquainted with
his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed
to the Jurat of said affidavit to be his genuine signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office this 3
day of December 1834
R. L. Hess Clerk
Page 19

Pension Office
1
Concord with
Fulton Otty
Washington
Boynton
Reed July 17th 1844
Page 20

State of Ohio
Ashtabula County
Be it known that on the
⎬
15th day of September A.D.
1853 before the undersigned a Justice
of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid person
ally appeared Hannah Whitman a resident of Plymouth
in said County who being first by me duly sworn according to Law deposeth
and says that she is the widow of John Whitman the Identical
John Whitman Whose name has been placed on the Pension
Rolls of Rhode Island at the rate of Twenty six Dollars
per annum that she is credibly informed that the said pension may and
ought to be continued to her since the decease of her husband that she is dis
ectly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be
filed with such additional evidence as my Agent may use in prosecuting this
claim. countermanding and revoking all Power of Attorney and Authority her
tofore given I hereby constitute and appoint Thomas H. Ford of Mansfield Ohio
my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of John Whitman
for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or increase of Pension that may
&
be due for military service for which the aforesaid pension was granted I
hereby authorize my said Attorney to Examine all papers or documents in
lation to said service on file in the department at Washington City or else
here to file additional evidence or arguments and to receive for my benefit the
certificate which may issued in satisfaction of said claim - to recieve all my
nies that may be due me and to do all things that I might or could do we
I personally present hereby ratifying and confirming all that
my said agent and Attorney shall lawfully do in the premises all
owing him the power to appoint one substitue for the purposes herein
pressed witness my hand and seal the day and year above written
Signed sealed & delivered in presence of
Will Blake
have a Chilman sub
Shellen
Sworn to Subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and
year above written and I hereby certify that I believe the said Hannah
Whitmare to be directly interested in said claim as set forth and to be the
the
Wills Flake Justin of the
Page 21

THE STATE OF OHIO.
Ashtabula County, ss:
, Abner Kellogg, Clk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Ashlas
certify that Wells Blakesler Esquire, by
whom the annexed and foregoing in
was at the date thereof, an acting Justice of the Peace
in and for the said county, duly qualified, and as such duly
to the same. And further, that I and again
with the standing of said Justes and to the
Signature purporting to be his are genuine
In Testimony whereof, I herunto set my hand and the Seal of said county
of the 16th day of September A.D. 1853
Kellogg Clerk
Page 22

Miss Mary R. Whitman
Old Fort Inn
Kennebunkport, Maine
Dear Madam:
August 13, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Caleb hitman-S.39889
John Whitman-R.10472
BA-J/AF
Reference is made to your letter in which you
request the Revolutionary ar records of Caleb, Jeremiah
, George, Samuel, John, Paris, and William Whitman
, all of whom served from Rhode Island.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War
data and the limited clerical force available for
furnishing such information, it has not been possible
to make a series of investigations and reports for one
person or organization, pertaining to soldiers of that
war.
in the war of the Revolution.
The records of Caleb and John Whitman are given
herein. The data were obtained from the papers on file
in pension claims, based upon their military service
Caleb hitman-S.39889
The date and place of birth of this soldier are
not shown in the claim, and there is no reference to
his parents.
Caleb Whitman served in 1775, eight months as a
private in the campaign before Boston", names of
officers no given. He enlisted in December, 1775,
served one year as private in Captain Benjamin Dixon's
company, Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island regiment
. He served in 1778 and 1779, one year in Colonel
Page 23

2-
Topham's Rhode Island regiment.
Caleb Whitman was allowed pension on his appli
cation executed October 2, 1821, at which time he was
sixty-six years of age and a resident of Coventry,
Kent County, Rhode Island.
The soldier's wife in 1821 was sixty-three years
old, Herrname is not given, nor are there any details
as to their marriage. There is no reference to children
.
John Whitman-R.10472
John Whitman was born June 4, 1756 in Scituate,
providence County, Rhode Island; the names of his parents
are not stated.
While residing in said Scituate, John Whitman
enlisted and served as a private in the Rhode Island
troops, as follows-
From April, 1775, eight months in Captain Ste
phen Kimball's company, Colonel Hitchcock's regiment,
marched to Roxbury, Massachusetts, and was there at
the time of the battle of Bunker Hill, in the spring
of 1776, one month in Captain Jeremiah Davis' company;
from October, 1776, four and one half months in Captain
Stephen Sheldon's company; in 1777, two months with
the "Scituate Hunters" in a company commanded by Lieutenant
Jonathan Smith, was in General Spencer's expedition
to Newport; served as a guard at Bristol, four
months in Captain Davis' company; served one and one
half months with the " Scituate Hunters" in a company
commanded by Lieutenant Jonathan Smith, was in General
Sullivan's expedition to Newport; was a guard
stationed in a Manting House between Warren and Bristol,
about two months in Captain Isaac Pain's company; was
and stationed at "The Four Chimney House" at Srin
ton Point, about five weeks in Captain Maxon's company.
He went on a cruise on privateer only Industry,
Page 24

3
commanded by Thomas Childs, was in a battle which lasted
three and one half days, and was out over three months.
After the Revolution the soldier, John Whitman,
lived in Windsor and Addison Counties, Vermont, Camillus
Onondaga County, New York, Cato, Cayuga County, New York
, and Lysander, Onondaga County, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
May 28, 1834, then a resident of Lysander, New York
. In 1836 he had moved to the state of Ohio. He
died January 18, 1839 or 1840 in Troy, Geauga County,
Ohio
Reference is made to his family, who were living
during the Revolution, no names stated.
The soldier, John Whitman, married in the month
of January, 1819 in Lysander, New York, Hannah Batterle.
she was seventy-eight years of age in 1853 and living in
Plymouth, Ashtabula County, Ohio.
There are no further data in this claim concerning
the family of John Whitman.
Very truly yours
ILLR
Assistant to Administrator
Page 25

1911 Nov. 21. And out for
death in
Rev War
1842
INVALID.
---
File No. 7872
John Gilman
Rive Rev. War
---
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 403
(Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 26

W
the
May 1886 S
all the
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
4
11472
-
Hannah Whitman
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
the
18
18
Page 27

New-31297. York
John Whitman
Suspended
Sett to Hon W Taylor
18 Decr 14
Son
admd
Page 28

man
Wit: of
Jno.
Let to F. Moulton, 10" Mch. 154,
11472
At 15
Page 29

of
OFFICE OF
AUDITOR FOR INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
IN REPLYING QUOTE NITIALS
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir:
WASHINGTON, November 25, 1911.
In reply to your letter of 21st instant (Record Division.
you are informed that, according to the latest account rendered
by the U. S. Pension Agent, at
Pittsburg,
in the case of
the records of this office show last payment to have been made to
John Whitman, War of the Revolution, certificate No.
29771
at $26.66
per month, annum to January 18, 1840, the date of his
death, to Michael McSharry, attorney for Hannah Whitman, widow.
Letter herewith returned.
Respectfully,
Form 2
By
Shober
Auditor.
Deputy Auditor.
Page 30

S
28
Pennon Office
11th March 1854
The claim of Mrs Hannah Whitman
for a pension as the nation of John Whitman
has been recived examined & suspended
the
Claimant short set forth that she is the tes
of a pension & Clearly eventify herself as such
the
applicant so not are he best to have been a
pensioner, but represents herself as the then of
Whitman a Revolutionary Soldier. There was no
person by such a name, ever pension & in the
Manor place for the human roll. In
to it will be made for the same to prove
Widowhood far forth of
Marriage
Page 31

F
the
Moulton, Esqr
Retter

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March 10 /34
Page 32

[handwritten]

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissn of Pensions
War Depmt.
City of Washington

[upside down]

Edwards
22 Feb '36
Nathan Burpee
John Whitman
Page 33

E. Ames
22 Feb. 36
Nathan
John
Burpee
Whitman
to
and
of
son
2
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James L Edwards Esqr
Comm of Pensions
Sir
Michs & Farmer Bank
Pension Office
Albany Feby 22nd 1836
In reply to yours of the 17th
& 18th Instant we have to state that Nathan Burpee
a private at $6000 was last paid from the 4th Sept
1834 to 4 March 1835 but that the Voucher for this
payment has been returned to this office for explanition
in respect to the signature of the pensioner, and that
no explation has yet been given-
John Whitman a private at $60 per Annum was
last paid to the 4 March 1835-
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Seven
The Manley
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Sir
that
be
℗
I
he
War kept
Pension of
Jany
39
I have the honor to inform you
the claim of John Whitman has been
amined with the benefit of the expla
ations of Mr Pettel, which would have
in more satisfactory in the form of
deposition by the claimant him
of my letter of 18 feet make no other
objection to the alleged service in 15
der Hilchell that there were
he enlistments at that timethe
claimant his witness Smith
and declared it was so, alleged in a
1
supplement that he served to in
with respect to the balance of the
service occasionally in the local met
& Situate Hunter no part of
could be allowed without a satisfactory
aminal of the proof which the numerous
applicants for militia service in
Island must be able to afford of
any service rendered therein & a certify
all of the Secy of State as to the service
& commissions of the designated officers
These child also be accompanied with
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a brief statement of the period & term of a
engagement & service with names of an
and an explanation of the ancient
inconsistency of having been subjected
to the duties of the local militia for year
while he belonged to the minute Compt
called situate Hunters-
June
29 Jany 1835
Hon W. Taylor
Hon W. Taylor
act
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Hon J.L. Edwards
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Hon J L Edwards
1
If upon a reven
of the case of John Whitman the proof called
or by your letters of the 18th see last and
29th June is indispensible to the admission
of all of his claim. I am authorized to say
that Mr Whitman despair of obtaining with
minute proof of each particular service
as is required, and to request you to
grant a certificate for the eight months
service admitted to be proved
I am he Respectfully
Yours &c
Tayler
Feb 13th 1835
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To the
Sir
on Comr of Pensions
Assembly Chamber Albany
January 10th 1835
Yours of the 15th December last, addressed to the Hon. W. Taylor,
which he did me the honor to forward to me is now before me
The Letter announce that the pension claim of John Whitman is a
gain suspended for want of pecification of the period, term and
grade of each tour in the militia, with names of officers
and admit the allegation by the claimant of service for a certain our
at a particular place, & in a designated year, of the claimants decla
ration is deemed deficient in the specifications alluded to, it is
believed that a personal recurrence, by the Hon Commissioner him
self will satisfy him that Mr Whitmans declaration came up
to the requirements of the regulations, more fully than an average
of the declarations that have received his favor, certainly morefully
then some that have come within my own obsevation & have
been successful, naked & unsupported of other proof. Are
to his papers will also show, that his specifications are as particular
as he can possibly make them, with the help of a decayed &
perannicated memory, struggling to gather up facts
after a lapse of more than fifty years. The defts his
specifications result only from the impaired state of his natual
power, & he so alleges upon his oath-- And is the withing
hand of time to shut him out from an equal participation
of the Government munificence, with his fellow veterans
who are enjoying it by scores & hundred, whose revolution
are recited
ry toils & suffering a story no less broken & in that
of Mr Whitman ⎬ The same objection was assigned in the Letter
of June 17th to Mr Taylor, for the first suspension of his claim, which
was shown to him in Nov last, when he reiterated upon his oath
that he verily believed & with little doubt, that his sensure
truly stated in his several declarations, but that he could not, & would
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be more positive and particular in t he detail. Another objection appears in the following statement "The terms of service in the militia during the years 1777 and 1778 are believed to have been for one month alternately, and claimant alleges terms of upwards of four months "continuously". The claimant has twice sworn to his statement, and his credibility is sustained by the most ample supports. If the belief of alternate monthly service is predicated as better & mor substantial grounds when his sworn & repeatedly sworn attestations, it would seem right that
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Here seem to be an admission of proof, by the affidavit of Jana
than Smith of 9 months service, although the extract reduces the
amount of service afterwards to two months, confining it to me
performed in Smith company - If I do not misremember the de
ation of Smith process absolutely, some 4 or 6 months service of Whit
man, and leaves the inference for & strong, that he served in that
one tour, eight or nine month for he sunces he found Whitman
serving in the company he joined, & left him doing duty in it when
his time expired. In a tone of apparent surprise, that but a single
witness is produced to prove he rendered in a Militia of which
there are numerous survivors" the extract seems to invalidate
the declaration of Whitman made upon his oath & strengthen its
doubt of his service from that circumstance-- The conclusion an
nine at is excitty the remise, & I am intibly brought to it, from
the facts of the very case now under consideration, Immediately
in receiving notice in June last, that Mr Whitmans applica
tion was suspended, & on his being informed by me, of the same,
and of the reasons assigned by the department, for that suspenson
he gave me a list of same dosen names, all he could collect
of the selling who served with him, and of the places where
they last resided, being then scattered on the West & with
parts of this State, Vermont, & some of the New England State
Letters were addressed, enclosing skeletons of his decla
ration to direct enquiry to the facts sought to be proved, to send
& Niagara Counties, West, Essex County North, Otsego and
Herkimer Counties East, in this State, and to Several Counties
in Vermont & Rhodeisland, to all of which answers were reforming
that the Soldiers enquired after as Witness
to support the claim of John Whitman, were principally
dead, or had been gone to the far mort, years enought to be
forgotten out of the number of ten or to Jonathan Smith
is the only to be found, who had not paid Natures last debt
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Nor is the case of Mr Whitman peculiar in this respect. All the
experience I have had, in my poor efforts to secure to more than
twenty five paper citizens of the revolution, the benefits of the
At of Congress of 1832, is mashed with evidences of the utmost
difficulty in procuring proof to support their claims, by living
Witnesses. I could now from recollection, refer to papers in the depart
be a single
ment on which pensions were granted, unsupposed,
witness to sustain the declaration of the applicant would
then be no assumption to conclude, as I have concluded, that the
survivors in no militia of the revolution, are numerous, and
if there be any circumstance to admire in the case, Mr Whitman
success in finding the one witness, Smith, would constitute the mot
ter of wonder, rather than his failure to procure more-
Whitman is very decrepit- He has recently suffered the loss of the prin
a part of a small farm, which has deprived him of his last
home Much effort & considerable money have been expended in
this application for the single affidavit of Jonathan Smith
paid for him in Rhodisland $10.00, with the failure of this
full effort of mine, in his behalf, he gives over the pursuit
I had concluded, & had been assured Mr Whitman that a pension
of some amount would be allowed him, when the papers were
last completed & forwarded to Washington, so will was his
tained in his own ability, & so clearly was a portion of his
proved by Smith deposition. And this was also the sanguine
opinion of Court the attorney Gen of Rhodeisland who procured
that Affidavit. I may be for the then to express my disappoint
ment on the second suspension of his claim-Indeed it is supposed
that a reexamination of the papers on file would result in a differ
ent determination-- It is therefore not deemed in pertimat to respect
fully salunt your personal examination of the papers, & if they do not
sustain his claim to a full pension, I have no doubt you will
find it congenial with the spirit of the Law, & not repugnant
to with the witness of the registations, to allow a pension of at least
same amount. I am Sir very respetfully &c George Pettit
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY
John Brown Francis
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of
Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name, ""HENRY BOWEN to the
afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of
Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same,
was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified
according to law. Wherefore unto his said attestation, full faith
and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence
, this fourteenth
day of August
in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-and
and of Independence the fifty-ninth
John Brown Francis
BY HIS EXCELLENCY COMMAND
Henry Bowen Secr
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State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations
Secretarys office August 14, 1834.
Certify that at the session of the General
assembly of said State holden on the first
Wednesday of May last John Wood was elected
one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas
within the County of Kent for one year and
that he has been commissioned accordingly.
as appears of record in this office.
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
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John
Whitman
N. Y
to
Pitby
Page 46

the
Go
State of Ohio
auga County
F
On this 28th day of
A.D. 1836. before me, the subscribed,
Justice of the Peace for the said County personally ap
peared John Whitman, who on his oath declares
that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the
company commanded by Captain Stephen Kimball, in
the regiment commanded by Colonel Hitchcock
in the service of the United States that his name
was placed on the pension roll of the State of New
from whence he has lately removed, that he
now resides in the State of Ohio (Pittsburgh Agency)
where he intends to resides and wishes his pension
to be there payable in future, that he has not
drawn a pension since the 4th of March 1835.
and therefore wishes his transfer to take effect
from that date, the following are his reasons for
removing from the State of New York to the State of
Ohio he owned land there & thought
she might better his condition by a remer all
Sworn and subscribed to
the day & year above mentioned
John Pitman
the Seals
the State of Ohio
Geauga County SS. On this 28th day of July 1836
being sworn declares that he is well acquainted with
John Whitman who has subscribed and sworn to the
above affidavit, and know him to be the identical
person therein described
Sworn & Subscribed on the day & year
above mentioned by the said James W. Any James Every
whom I hereby certify to be a person of truth
land Beach Jus Peace
Coracity
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M
Please to direct to Jane & Phelps
Chardon
Geauga County
Ohio
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The State of Ohio
Geauga County ⎬ I, J D Aiken Clerk of the
I
Court of Common Pleas for said County
do hereby certify that Alvord Beals
quire before whom the foregoing oaths
appine to have been taken, on the twenty
Eighth day of January A.D. 1834 was
at that time and still is a Justice
of the peace within and for said County duly commissioned
and sworn according to her; and further
that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of
the said Justice and do only believe the foregoing sig
natures, purporting to be his are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my
hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Chardon this
first day of February A.D. 1836.
Eliken Clerk
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Page 49

F. Moulton
Present
Page 50

ht
2
Be it remembered that on this
State of Ohio
Ashtabula County ⎬ ss Third day of October 1853 Personally
appeared before the Probate Court of the
County and State aforesaid Hannah Whitman a resident of Ash
tabula County and State of Ohio aged 78 years who being first
duly sworn according to law doth on her Oath make the foll
owing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by all and every act heretofore passed by Congress for the
benefit of widows of the Revolutionary soldiers that she is the
&
Widow of the Identical John Whitman who was late a private in
the Revolutionary War from the State of Rhode Island the Comp
any Regiment and officers I do not recollect that she was Mar
red to the said John Whitman in the month of January A.D.
1819 the day of the month not collated in the town of Lysander
Onondaga County State of New York by John Buck Justice of the
Peace that there is no public or private record to her knowledge
that her former name before her marriage to the said John
Whitman was Hannah Satterlee that her husband the said
John Whitman died in Troy Geauga County State of Ohio on
the 18th day of January AD 1839 and that she has remained
his widow ever since the period of the her husband John
Whitman as will more fully appear by reference to the affida
vit of Rechamer Avery and Samuel Satterlee further affi
and saith not
Hannah Whitman
iles
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 3d day of October
Gid
Probate Jude
I J.A Giddings Probate Judge of
the County aforesaid hereby certify that the
above named Hamiah Whitman
was by me first duly sworn to the state
by his above subscribed that the sum
same in my presence and that
A.D. 1852
the State of Ohio
the
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she is the identical person she purports to
be in the said statement, and that I believe
her to be a person worthy of Credit so far
as veracity is concerned. In testimony
of which I have hereto set my hand
and affixed my official seal at Jefferson
in the County aforesaid this 3d day of October
7. 18
J D Giddings
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State of Ohio
Ashtabula County ⎬ SS
Be it known that on the third day
of October A.D. 1853 personally appe
and before the subscriber & Probate
Judge in and for the County aforesaid Rehamer Avery who
being by me first duly sworn according to law says that
she is 48 years of age that she was present when John
Whitman was married to Hannah Satterlee by John
Buck a Justice of the peace in the town of Lysander on
-ondaga County in the State of New York that she
was acquainted with them both up to the Death of said
John Whitman which occurred on the 18th day of Jan
uary 1839 in the Town of Troy Geauga County State of
Ohio and since that time with Hannah Whitman
the surviving widow who has signed the annexed
declaration that to her knowledge John Whitman
drew a pension of twenty six dollars per annum for
a number of years and that Hannah Whitman is the
Identical person alleged further affiant saith not
Rhame Therey
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 3d day of October A.D. 1853
of A Godday
Probate Judge
the State of Ohio
Ashtabula County
2
I
J. A. Giddings Probate Judge
of the County aforesaid
hereby certify
that the above named Rechamer-
y subscribed
swore to the forgoing
tenement in my presence and
that I believe her to be a person of
truth and veracity and in whose
statement implicit credit may
places. Also that I am in
wise interested in the claim
to which the among statement
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relats or in the prosecution thereof
In testimony of which I have
hereunto set my my hand and
affixed my official seal this 3d
day of Oct. 1853.
J. A. Giddings
Probate Judge