Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39852, for Pearce Spear, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Navy (R.I.)
Spear, Pearce
or
Piearc
NUMBER
S. 39852
CONTENTS [none listed]
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[Form with handwritten entries in braces { } ]
{17.350 R
Rhode Island}
{Pearce Spear} of {Co. of Newport} in the State of {R Island} who was a {Mariner} in the [regiment crossed through] {Frigate Warren} commanded by [Colonel crossed through] {Cap'n Hopkins} [of the line, crossed through] {R I} for the term of {1 year}
Subscribed on the Roll of {Rhode Island} at the rate of {8-} Dollars per month, to commence on the {21} of {April 1818}
Certificate of Pension issued the {2} of {June 1820} and {Sent to Daniel Denham Esq^r Judge & [?] Newport R I}
Arrears to 4th of {March 1820. 22.10/30.4/31. 179.69}
Semi-anl. all'ce [allowance] ending {4 Sep 1820. 48 -}
[double line
{$227.69} [total]
[double line]
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18^th March, 1818.}
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[Paper attached to another page. Writing very faint]

Notification sent to H. Cranston 26 Sep. 1820
Newport, R. I.
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Pierce Spear
17350
Con [?]
Sept: 1820
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On this [twentieth day of May crossed through] ^Twenty Sixth Day of June=^ AD 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of Record for the County of Newport State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Peirce Spear in the seventy second year of his age resident in Newport aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to Law doth, on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary War [illegible] as an ordinary Seaman in the Ship Warren John B. Hopkins Commander from February in the year 1778 in a few days after sailing from Providence I was put on board a prize ship to return to America on Account of my wounds received in an Action off of Dutch Island in Narragansett Bay in passing a British 74 Gun Ship & a frigate in forcing our way out from Providence the British then having possession of Rhode Island. the prize I was put on board of was soon after retaken & I was brought as Prisoner into Newport and not exchanged until a general Exchange took place I entered on board the frigate for twelve Months after I was exchanged went on board the Frigate at Boston all which will appear by documents furnished by Capt B Page a Lieutenant on bord [board] the Frigate together with my Declaration before made now lodged in the Secretary of War Office at Washington on which I have [not yet crossed through] received [any crossed through] a pension ^Certificate being number [illegible] 17350.^ - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th Day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by Gift Sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary War passed on the 18^th March 1818 and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or [illegible] contracts in debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed. Which is to say I have no property whatever - that I am an harness Maker by occupation but from my infirmities having lost the use of my arm am now a Pauper & supported by the Town of Newport to which I belong - 
[signature] Piearc Spear
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The within Declaration was sworn to in open Court this twenty sixth Day of June 1820
H. Cranston Clk [Clerk]
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport May term AD 1820, (being a Court of record within and for the County aforesaid so constituted by Statute proceeding according to the Course of the Common Law, possessing original and unlimited jurisdiction in all civil cases and keeping a record of its proceeding.)
I hereby certify that the foregoing declaration & oath are truly copied from the records of said Court. I do further certify that it is the opinion of said Court that the statements made by the witness mentioned Peirce Spear relative to his property are true.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of our said Court this Twenty Sixth Day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & twenty & Forty fourth of American Independence.
By order of Court
H Y[?] Cranston Clk
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The claimant must make a new declaration, setting forth his service in the Warren frigate only - as that is the only continental service proved. Let the new declaration accompany these papers to the War Department.
Admitted
as a mariner [underlined] take date of first [underlined] declaration
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport - 
I hereby certify that Daniel Denham Esq whose signature is affixed to the annexed attestation is a Justice of the Court aforesaid duly Commissioned and engaged under the the Seal of said State.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of our said Court, this Nineteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and nineteen, and the forty fourth of American Independence.
H Y[?] Cranston Clk
[seal affixed to the left]
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[Form with handwritten entries in {braces}]
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
NEWPORT, ss.
On this {Eight} day of {November} 181{9}, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport, personally appears {Pearce Spear} aged {Seventy} years, resident in {Newport} in the said district, 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 services of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he the said {Pearce Spear} enlisted in {Providence} in the State of {Rhode Island on board the Warren Frigate} [in the company crossed through] commanded by Captain {John B. Hopkins January 1778 and that he sailed from Providence in Said Ship and in passing a Ship of war [of the crossed through] in the Bay he received a wound and}; that he continued to serve in the said [crossed through illegible] [or in the service crossed through] of the United States, until the {was put on board a Prize and was carried into Newport} [cross through illegible] [was discharged from the service in crossed through] {and there remained} [State crossed through] {until exchanged in December}, [that he was in the battles of crossed through] [1779 erased] {following} and 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.
I, {Daniel Denham} Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, That it appears, to my satisfaction, that the said {Pearce Spear} 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 War Department, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress.
{Newport Nov^r Eight} 181{9} {Daniel Denham}
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I Benjamin Page of Portsmouth County of Newport State of Rhode Island Do Certify that Pearce Spear Did enter on board the Warren Frigate John B Hopkins Esq Commander on the 20^th of January 1778. When I was Second Lieutenant of Said Frigate that we Departed from Prov^d [Providence] February 14^th at 12 at night on Passing the British Ship of War Summerset [HMS Somerset?] of seventy four guns, he received a wound from a Splinter on the 22^nd of February he was put On board a prize Ship off Bermuda with our pilot Allen Brown was carried into Newport & remained a prisoner the greater part of the year. or until the first of December 1778 when the exchange took place that he is in such circumstances that he requires the assistance of his Country The enclosed Certificate that was returned from the War Office has been mislaid, or the Certificate of  [illegible] would have been sent forward fifteen months ago. Newport August [8?]^th 1819 [signature] Benj Page - 
[different handwriting]
Newport ss. At Newport this [1?]^st Day August in the year 1819 personally appeared the above named Benjamin Page residing in Portsmouth Rhode Island and made Solemn Oath to the Truth of the above written certificate by him subscribed.
And I hereby Certify that he is a credible witness in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the Day & year above written
Daniel Denham Justice
Court of Common Pleas
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I Henry Sherburne of Newport in the County of Newport & State of Rhode Island Do Certify on honor, that Pearce Spear the bearer hereof Inlisted a Soldier in May 1775, In one of the Regiments raised by their State Command by Col^n [Colonel?] Thomas Church of which the undersigned was Major, that [invested?] the Town of Boston, that during the said Campaign he the said Spear Conducted himself as a faithful good Soldier, - That the next year he Inlisted in the Col^n James M. Varnum Reg^t raised by the State for the Continental Service, & afterward he Inlisted in Col^n Cranes [?] Reg^t of Artillery & continued therein until the Close of the Revolutionary War. I do further certify; That the Said Pearce Spear is about Seventy Years of Age, is very Infirm, Extremely Needy & not Capable of getting a living by Manual Labour, & is an Object of the Clemency of his Country.
Given Under My hand at Newport the Sixth day of January AD 1818 & forty second of American Independence
[H?] Sherburne Major of One of the Continental Regts Raised by this State, & afterward Colonel of One of the Sixteen Battalion raised for the Continental Army Under the Appointment of his Excellency Gen: George Washington
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[Form with handwritten entries in {braces} ]
State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations
NEWPORT, ss.
On this {Twenty first} day of {April} 181{8}, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport, personally appears {Pearce Spear} aged {Sixty nine} years, resident in {Newport} in the said district, 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 [name crossed through] {Pearce Spear} enlisted in {the City of Philadelphia} in the State of {Pennsylvania in the year 1775 [^text^ illegible]} in the company commanded by Captain {Joseph Perry [in ^the^?] Artillery} of the Regimen Com^d by Col Crane}; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the {end of the War}, when he was discharged from the service in {Providence} State of {Rhode Island ss.}, that he was in the battles of {Germantown in Pennsylvania at Monmouth in the Jerseys & at Rhode Island under Gen^al Sullivan} and 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. {signature of Pearce Spear crossed through]
[signature] Nich^s  [Nicholas] Taylor
I, {Nich^s [Nicholas]Taylor} Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, That it appears, to my satisfaction, that the said {Pearce Spear} 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.
{Newport April 21} 181{8} {Nich^s [Nicholas] Taylor}
{Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
County of Newport 23 April 1818
I hereby certify that Nicholas Taylor Esquire whose signature is affixed to the above statement & Certificate is Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the County of Newport [illegible] aforesaid in testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Court}
[signature] Robert Rogers Clk
 [faint remainder of seal to the left]
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[Form with handwritten entries in {braces} ]
{Invalid}
{Revy}
{Navy}
File No. {39852}
{Pearce Spear
Mariner
Frigate Warren
Revolutionary}
Act {March 18: 1818.}
Index: Vol___________, Page_______
[Arrangement of 1870]