Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39858, for John Strange, Rhode Island
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(8-1776)
SERVICE.                                NUMBER
RI.               Strange, John     S. 39858
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19,452

Rhode Island
John Strange,

Providence Co. in the State of Rhode Island who was a Drummer in the (blank) commanded by Captain S. Olney. of the regiment commanded by Colonel Angell, in the Rhode Island, line, for the term of for years & four months, from January 1778 to April  1783.

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island,
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 26th of May 1825.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd of June 1825 and sent to Benja Cowell Ensign,
Providence, R.I.

Arrears to 4th of Sept: 1825. $ 26,,60
(crossed out sentence).    $26''60

{Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820.}

See letter to J.S. Dexter, Dec. 11. 1829.
do.to Hon. E. Young. H.R. 21 Apl. 1830
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United States of America
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations

County of Providence Sc.
Supreme Judicial Court.
September Term A.D. 1834.

Be it Remembered that on this 21st day of September A.D. 1824 personally appeared in open court, being a court of Record within & for said county John Strange aged 64 years now resident in North Providence in said county who being duly sworn maketh the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions of the act of congress for relief of pensions engaged in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war.  
This said John declares that in the year 1777 in the month of April he enlisted as a drummer in Capt Stephen Olney's company & in the regiment commanded first by Col. Angell & afterwards by Col Jeremiah Olney of the army of the United - States & of the Rhode Island line, that he enlisted for & 
served during the war & honorably discharged.

Oath of John Strange
I John Strange do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States in the Eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred  & eighteen; and that I have not since that time, by gift. Sale or in any manner what-ever, 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
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the land and naval services of the thirteen States in the Revolutionary war " one thousand eight hundred & Eighteen" that I have not nor had 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, & by me subscribed.
        his
John X Strange
       mark.

Schedule of Property & income (necessary clothing & bedding excepted) of John Strange.
Said John declares that he has not property of any description whatever, that he is a labourer & works when he is able, but in consequence of sickness he has become very feeble an unable to do much labour.  He has no family that this applicant further declares that at the siege of York Farm just before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis & while the light infantry was under the command of General La Fayette we stormed the enemies redoubt on the night of the 14th of October 1781. - that he was one of the two first privates that mounted the breach & made good his stand on the breast work, & while standing on the breast work it was his good fortune to preserve the life of his Captain by killing the man who had his bayonet charged at his breast & to escape himself unhurt.
The storm started about an hour before the fort surrendered. This event was soon followed by the
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Surrender of the whole British army -And this applicant further declares that he is now in very impoverished circumstances & need, the assistance of his country.
        his
John X Strange
       mark.
Sworn to according to Law
L.T. 1824, 2d Day
Sept 21, 1824   W.H. Smith Clk
Clerks office Supreme Judicial Court.
January 15th AD 1825.

Providene [illegible]. I, William Henry Smith clerk of said court do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court, that the said John Strange 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 & the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of said court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of this said court, that the total amount in value of the property of the said John Strange is nothing.  That I do further certify that the Deposition of Capt Stephen Olney hereto annexed is a true copy of its original on file in this office & that William Aplin whose certificate is annexed to said deposition & truly copied with this same is a Justice of the Peace for the town & county of Providence duly appointed by the General
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assembly of this State & otherwise duly qualified to act in said office.

In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand & affix the Seal of said Court on this 15th day of January
AD 1825.

William H Smith Clerk
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application 19,540
John Strange
Service admitted
on roll
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I Stephen Olney of North Providence in the State of Rhode Island formerly a Captain in the Rhode Island Regiment in the army of the United States in the Revolutionary war do hereby testify & say that John Strange served as a soldier & drummer from about the year 1777 to the fore part of the year A.D 1782 that he belonged to the Light Infantry company of which I was commander at the siege & capture of Lord Cornwallis at York Town Virginia & performed the part of a courageous & good Soldier in the Storm of the enemies   redoubt of the two first private soldiers that mounted the breach & made good his hand on the enemies breast work.
Given under my hand at said North Providence this 10th day of December 1824
Stephen Olney
Providence Sc. Providence Jany 15.1825-
Then Stephen Olney signee of the aforegoing appeared before me & made oath to the truth of the same: & I further certify that Stephen Olney is personally well known to me & is a person of truth & veracity & of the first respectability & standing in Society
Attest William Aplin Justice of the Peace
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39858
INVALID.
Revy
No. 39,858
John Strange
Drummer Rev War
Act: 18th March 18th
Index :--Vol. 8, Page 487
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Providence May 30th 1825
Sir
I herewith return the application of John Strange together with a supplemental declaration with regard to his property since the 18th of March 1818.  The reason why he did not apply for a pension at an earlier period in pursuance of the directions in your letter to me of the 5th Ult - he is now & has been for sometime an object of charity & as such as well as for his long & meritorious service & bravery during [illegible] from his Country -  I am respectfully your
obt Sevt
Benja Cowell
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State of Rhode Island Lc County of Providence

Court of Common Pleas
May Term 1825

On this 24th day of May 1825 personally appeared in open court being a court of Record within and for said county John strange who maketh the following declaration in addition and supplemental to the declaration made by him before the Supreme Judicial Court within and for said county at their September Term 1824 in order to obtain the provisions of the acts of congress enacted for the benefit of the indigent officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army viz said John declares that since the 18 of March 1818 he has not owned or possessed any property whatever except what he has earned & spent from day to day by manual labour and being called upon to state the reason why he did not
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apply for a pension at an earlier period he would state that he did make several ineffectual attempts several years ago but in consequence of his poverty and the want of proper assistance and advice how to proceed he never was able to get his claim before the court until the last September Term of the Supreme Judicial Court when he made an application as before stated he would also state that he is almost a cripple in consequence of a fractured leg of course able to do but little labour for support he has now and ever has been for some time in a great measure dependant upon charity for a living 
        his
John X Strange
       mark

May Term 1825 second day of the Term 24th day of the month Sworn to in open court
Bernon Helme  clerk
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State of Rhode Island
Providence Lc Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
May 26th AD. 1825

I Bernon Helme clerk of said court do herby certify that the preceding is a true copy of the supplemental declaration of John Strange on file in the office duly compared by me - In testimony wherof I have hereto set my name and fixed the Seal of said court day and year above written

Bernon Helme  clerk