Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,551, for Daniel Tillinghast, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Tillinghast, Daniel
NUMBER
S.11,551
CONTENTS
carded
Page 2

20,728
New York
Daniel Tillinghast of Madison Co. in the State of New York who was a Captain &c. in the Comp. commanded by Captain Bates of the Rgmt. commanded by Col. Dyer in the Rh. Island line for
3 mos Capt $377.38
$60 4 mos [illegible]
62,13 3 mos [illegible]
54.30
Page 3

20.728
New York Albany
Daniel Tillinghast decd. of Madison Co in the State of N. Y. who was a Captain &c in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the R.I. line for [blank]
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 185 Dollars 53 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. & Endg 22nd March 1839
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of January 1852 and sent to Hon L. Babcock
H of R [House of Representatives]
Arrears  to the 4th of [blank]
Semiannl. allowance ending [blank]
[illegible] from $183.19
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by L. R. Weighdman Clerk.
Book 2 Vol. 4 Page 73.
[left facing page]
[illegible] to Hon L. Babcock
Jan 29 1832
W. Valentine
Mch 19 1832
sent to O.P. Granger 11 June 37
[sent] to Polly [Granger] 11 June 32]
Page 4

Declaration of Daniel Tillinghast
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 AD 1839
State of New York}
Madison County } sc.  on the Eighth day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Daniel Tillinghast a resident of the Town of Nelson in said County, aged Seventy six years, who being properly 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 7, 1832
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that at the commencement of the Revolutionary War he resided in the Town of Exeter County of Washington and State of Rhode Island. In the years 1775 and 1776 he was out on three alarms for a short time and making in the whole some [illegible] months service, in the fall of 1776 he was chosen Ensign in the first company of Militia of Exeter which was commanded by Jonathan Bates Captain, in October the Company was called out and this declarant went and served as Ensign and received pay as such. They at this time were on duty one month. They went onto the shore near Rhode island while they were marching down the British fleet bore in sight. They went onto the shore near Quidnesset [illegible] and were stationed a part of the time at [illegible], they were under the command of Colonel Charles Dyer and General Spencer, that they were then dismissed.
That the Militia of the State by edict of the Assembly was about that time divided into three different classes for the purpose of  guarding the shore while the British had possession of the Island, of Rhode Island, and thereafter one class was kept on duty all the time. That one Glover Spinks was commissioned Ensign of said Company and this deponent thereafter served as private untill May 1777 during which time he served with his class their regular  part of the time which must have been over one months service and he should say nearly two months. That he recollects of being out with his class in December he thinks about four weeks where they were relieved by another class.
That in May 1777 this declarant was commissioned Ensign of Said Company and there after served the one equal third part of the time with his class until May 1778, in the fall of 1778 the Militia was called out enmasse at that place and the Company was under Captain Bates was sent and this claimant as Ensign of said Company they were in Colonel Dyers Regiment and were under General Spencer and were stationed some time at Tiverton that they marched to Fogland ferry in the night for the purpose of going onto the Island of Rhode Island, but for reasons unknown to this declarant they did not pass over there was a great number of other troops there but who commanded them he dont now recollect except there was a Colonel Topham and General Cromwell [?] among them. At other times when they went out there was but one company together, and they moved from place to place as one [illegible] required along the shore. That he served under General Spencer one month, and the equal third part of the residue of the time from May 1777 to May 1778 [illegible] three months and twenty days service
Page 5

That in May 1778 this declarant was commissioned Lieutenant in Captain Bates Company and from that time until May1779 served as Lieutenant in said Company the one equal third part of the time with his class, and in relation to which in the Month of August the Militia was again called out en masse and Captain Bates Company went and this declarant as Lieutenant of said Company they went on Rhode Island under General Sullivan. Their Regiment was commanded by Colonel Dyer while there the Americans had an engagement with the British. Colonel Dyers Regiment was not engaged with small arms but was in the entrenchment engaged in commanding their Regiment [illegible] as flank guard to General Varnums Brigade of Continental troops. After the Battle they moved off the Island before the main Army, and within a few days dismissed.
That this declarant served under General Sullivan at that time one month & a few days over and the equal third part of the residue of the time from May 1778 to May 1779 being three months and a little more than twenty days service as Lieutenant. In June 1779 this declarant was appointed and commissioned Captain of said Company Captain Bates being promoted, and thereafter commanded said Company until some time in the year 1780. That he served as Captain three months or more, that after the British left the Island this declarant went onto it with his Company to keep Garrison there. That the particular periods of his service it is entirely out of the power of this declarant to state as he has no record to refresh his recollections, and the regular periods being the same and the service of all very similar he cannot now distinguish between them...... But he knows from the regulations then existing he was required to serve one equal third part of the time over and above when the Militia were out en masse, and that he did serve according to the requirement. That the main object of their service was to prevent the boats coming on shore from the British vessels and taking or obtaining supplies, and also to prevent the Tories and [illegible] from committing depredations. That he has no documentary evidence of his service except what is hereto appended, and that he knows of no others he can provide to testify to any part of his service. That 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 State.
[signature] Daniel Tillinghast
Sworn and subscribed October 9th 1832
A. S. Sloan Clk
And the said Daniel Tillinghast did then and there upon his oath make the following Answers to the several interrogations put to him by the said Court as by the War Department prescribed
Page 6

1st. That he was born in East Greenwich in the State of Rhode Island in the year 1756.
2nd. That he has a record of his age which is now in his possession
3rd. When called into service he lived in the Town of Exeter in the State of Rhode Island and continued to live there until the year 1807 when he moved into the State of Connecticut where he lived eighteen years, then moved into Nelson where he now resides.
4th. That he was called into service as set forth in his declaration
5th. That from the nature of the service he rendered and want of recollection he at this time is unable to state the Officers under whom he served the troops with which he acted, or the details of his service any more particular than he has set them forth in his declaration.
6th. That he never received a written discharge, but did receive three commissions, the one an ensign, the other a Lieutenant and the other a Captains. That when he moved from Connecticut all his commissions were left in old desk that it was not convenient to move at that time. That in 1826 he went to Connecticut and removed the desk. That it contained a large quantity of old papers which were considered entirely valueless, and among them was his commissions civil and military, and his papers made as a Justice of the Peace while he lived in Exeter that he then considered them entirely useless. His military commissions as well as the rest for by the then laws of Congress, his service nor his situation would permit him to [illegible] or entitle him to a pension.
7th That Elder David Blakesley of Eaton and Elijah Williams are acquainted with him and can testify as to his character for veracity and their opinion of his having been a soldier in the Revolution
And the said Court do hereby declare our opinion after investigating the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier in the Revolution and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that the said David Blakesley who signed the certificate hereto attached is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Eaton in said County, and that Elijah Williams a resident of Eaton in said County is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Page 7

I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Madison, do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings in the matter of the application of Daniel Tillinghast for a pension - 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832 - 
[signature] A. S. Sloan Clk.
[seal attached to the left]
Page 8

We David Blakesley a clergyman residing in the Town of Easton in the County of Madison and State of New York and Elijah Williams residing in Easton aforesaid do hereby certify that we are acquainted with Daniel Tillinghast who has subscribed and who is named in the Declaration to which this is attached as declarant that we believe him to be Seventy six years of age, and that it is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides that he was a soldier in the Revolution and We concur in that opinion. And would further certify that said Tillinghast has during our acquaintance with him been a man in respectable standing and sustained a fair unimpeachable character in every respect and from our knowledge of the character of the said Tillinghast We have full confidence in the facts set forth in his said declaration
[signature] David Blakelee
[signature] Elijah Williams
Sworn & subscribed to this 9th day of October 1832 in open Court before me.
A. S. Sloan Clk.
Page 9

State of New York
Madison County
Samuel Gorton a resident of Brookfield in said County being sworn in due form of law doth depose and say, that he is eighty seven years of age, that during the Revolutionary War he resided in the Town of Exeter County of Washington and State of Rhode Island. And then and there served as Captain of a Company of Militia. That he was then intimately acquainted with Daniel Tillinghast who is now present and who then resided in Exeter aforesaid and who now resides in the Town of Nelson in the county of Madison aforesaid. That said Tillinghast was then reputed to be much in the service as a Lieutenant. That this deponent knew personally of some service of the said Tillinghast though he has no recollection of being in the service with him. That the said Tillinghast was then known and spoken of as a Lieutenant that served in the Army. That it was then commonly reported and spoken of for a number of years that the said Tillinghast was each year more or less in the Army as Lieutenant. And from what this deponent then understood from common report he has no doubt but the said Tillinghast must have been in actual service during the Revolutionary War as much as a year or more. And this deponent doth further depose and say that the said Daniel Tillinghast has ever been a man of repute in standing in all respects as far as this deponent has known anything of him. And has ever sustained a fair unimpeachable character for veracity and further this deponent sayeth not.
[signature] Samuel Gorton
Subscribed & Sworn before Me this 25th day of August 1832 and I do hereby certify that the said Samuel Gorton is a man of the first respectability and entitled to full credit.
[signature] James B. Eldredge First Judge of Mad. Co.
Page 10

Declaration of
Daniel Tillinghast
[illegible] to be made to
J B Eldredge Hamilton
Madison Co. N. Y.
Page 11

State of New York
Madison County Clerk's Office } ss. I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said County, do certify that James B. Eldredge before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been Sworn, was, at the date of the same, the first Judge of the County Courts in and for the said County. And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name Subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature - Witness my hand and Seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832 - 
[signature] A. S. Sloan Clk
[faint seal to the left]
Page 12

Samuel Tillinghast
Deposition
Page 13

I Samuel Tillinghast of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on oath certify and declare that Daniel Tillinghast served as Ensign of the first Company of Militia of the town of Exeter in the County of Washington then called Kings County in the State of Rhode Island in the year 1777. Jonathan Bates was Captain and Stephen Whitman Lieutenant and I well remember my Brother Daniel Tillinghast acting as Ensign of Said Company as I went with him part of the way when the Company was ordered to Tiverton in General Spencers Expedition and in the year 1778 I enlisted into Captain Wests Company in Colonel Tophams Regiment and was on Rhode Island in the Battle in Sullivans Expedition and saw the first company of Militia of Said town of Exeter Commanded by Jonathan Bates and Daniel Tillinghast acted as Lieutenant and was in the Battle with me, and in the year 1779 I acted as a Private in the first Company of Militia of Said town of Exeter in the second Regiment of Said County under Colonel Charles Dyer and Daniel Tillinghast was Captain. John Congdon [illegible] was Lieutenant and George Bates Ensign of Said Company was ordered and went on Rhode Island to keep Garrison on the Island after the British left Rhode Island all these facts are within my perfect Recollection and I further Certify that the Said Daniel Tillinghast is well known to me and I always considered him to be a man of truth and Veracity and full credit to be put in his testimony
[signature] Samuel Tillinghast
Page 14

John Congdon
Deposition
75 Cts
Page 15

I John Congdon of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on oath Certify and declare that I was orderly Sergeant of the first Company of Exeter in the County of Washington then called Kings County in the State of Rhode Island where Jonathan Bates was Captain Stephen Whitman Lieutenant and Daniel Tillinghast Ensign. Said Company Belonged to the Second Regiment of Said County in the year 1777 and Served as orderly Sergeant of said Company During that year and went on Duty on the Shores the west side of the Narragansett Bay which was on the lines of the Enemy part of the time in Wickford in North Kingstown and Part of the time North Kingstown and South of Wickford in Said town of North Kingstown and I well remember Daniel Tillinghast of said Exeter who was Ensign of Said Company and Served in the Place as long as I served and in the year 1778 Jonathan Bates was Captain of the same Company Daniel Tillinghast was appointed Lieutenant in the Place of Stephen Whitman and I was appointed Ensign of the same Company and did not serve as such that year But recollect that Daniel Tillinghast did serve as Lieutenant of Said Company and in the year 1779 Daniel Tillinghast was appointed Captain of Said Company in Place of Jonathan Bates Promoted and I was appointed Lieutenant in the Place of Daniel Tillinghast [illegible] and George Bates was appointed Ensign and Served myself as Lieutenant of Said Company during that year and Daniel Tillinghast served as Captain
Page 16

and did duty in the Same Regiment Part of the time in North Kingstown on the shore of Narragansett Bay and Part of the time on Rhode Island and I Well Remember Daniel Tillinghast did duty as Captain of the Same Company, all these facts are within my Recollection. I have Been acquainted with Daniel Tillinghast Before the Revolution and Since and always considered him to Be a man of truth and Veracity and full Credit to Be Put in his testimony
[signature] John Congdon
County of Washington Sc
North Kingstown September the 8 1832
Personally appeared Before me the above named John Congdon and made Solemn oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him Signed and I further Certify that said John Congdon in known By me and he is a Creditable and disinterested witness in the Premises and his deposition entitled to full faith and Credit
[signature] Richard Thomas Just. Peace
Page 17

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
Lemuel H. Arnold
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 aforewritten
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 tenth
day of September
in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
and of Independence the fifty-seventh
Lemuel H Arnold
BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.
Henry Bowen Secry
[seal affixed to the left]
Page 18

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office Sept 10th 1832.
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden in May AD one thousand seven hundred seventy seven Jonathan Bates Jun was elected Captain - Stephen Whitman, Lieutenant, & Daniel Tillinghast Ensign of the first Company of militia in the town of Exeter. That at May session AD 1778 - Jonathan Bates Jun was elected Captain - Daniel Tillinghast Lieutenant and John Congdon Jun Ensign of said Company. That at June session AD 1779, Daniel Tillinghast was elected Captain, John Congdon Jun Lieutenant and George Bates Ensign of said Company; all which appears of record in this office
I further certify,
That.
Page 19

That at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the first Monday of August last Richard Thomas was elected Justice of the Peace within the town of North Kingstown in the County of Washington for and until the first Wednesday of May next; and that he has been Commissioned accordingly; as appears of Record in this office.
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
[in right margin] Declaration of Daniel Tillinghast
16695
Page 20

State of New York
Madison County } ss. Daniel Tillinghast being sworn in due form of Law doth on his oath depose and say that by reason of old age and the consequent Loss of Memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length and the particular [illegible] of his Service but according to the best of his recollection he served for the period mentioned below in the following grades, viz.,
In the years 1775 and 1776 as a private soldier    1 months
In the year 1776 - -  as Ensign                               1 month
In the year 1776 - as private                                  1 month
In the years 1777 and 1778 as Sergeant                4 months 20 days
In the years 1778 and 1779 as Lieutenant             4 months 20 days
In the year 1779 and 1780 as Captain                    3 months
and from what he can recollect is certain that during the Revolutionary [war] he served as above set forth two months as a private five months twenty days as an Ensign four months and twenty days as Lieutenant and three months as Captain for which he claims a pension
Subscribed Sworn before Me this 25th day May 1833
James B Eldridge J. P.
State of New York
County of Madison } ss. I Andrew S. Sloan Clerk of the said County do certify that James B. Eldredge before whom the foregoing affidavit purported to have been Sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verify below is his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature - Witness my hand and Seal of office this 27th day of May 1833 - 
[signature] A. S. Sloan
[signature] E. Barnard Dep. Clk
Page 21

No 16095
Daniel Tillinghast
Madison Co
N. Y.
e.i.
Admitted
Captain - 3 months
Lieutenant - 4 [months] 20 days
Ensign - 5 [months] 20 [days]
Private - 2 [months]
[total] 15 [months] 10 [days]
[faint numerical notes illegible]
J.B. Eldridge
Hamilton
Madison Co
N. Y.
Page 22

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 16 1833
Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).
You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
[Table follows]
A Statement, shewing the Service of Daniel Tillinghast Madison Co
[Column Headings] / Duration of the
claimant's service / Rank of
claimant. / Names and Rank of the Company officers under Whom he served. / Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers. / Battles in which the applicant was engaged. / Country through
which he marched. / Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present
period. / Evidence by which the declaration
is supported. /
[Line 1] / enlisted 1776 / - / 1 [month] / Private / Captain Bates / Col Dyer / [blank] / Rhode Island Wickford Toylands Ferry / 76 years Exeter Town Washington Co R. Island / [blank]
[Line 2] / May 1777 / 1 [month] / Ensign / Captain Bates / Gen Spencer Gen Sullivan / [blank] / [same] / [same] / [blank]
[Line 3] / May 1778 / 3 [months] 20 [days] / Private / [same] / Gen Sullivan / [same] / [same / [blank] / 
[Line 4] / May 1779 / 3 [months] 20 [days] / Ensign / Col Dyer / [blank] / [same] / [same] / [blank] / 
[Line 5] / June 1779 / [blank] / Lieut / [blank] / General Varnum / [blank] / [same] / [same] / [blank] / 
[Line 6] / 1780 / 3 [months] / Capt / [blank] / Genl Varnum / [blank] / [same] / [same] / [blank] / 
[Line 7] [Under Evidence] 3 Living witnesses & traditional evidence
I am respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of
Pensions.
Page 23

2
Regulations Under The Act of June 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of } ss.
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the County of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with
line, under the following named officers:
and
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C.D. residing in (the same,
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seat of
office, this
day of
&c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the set
vices of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person