Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22,191, for Peter Shaw, Rhode Island
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
R.I. Shaw, Peter W. 22, 191
Lydia
CONTENTS
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Rhode Island 980
Lydia Shaw
widow of Peter Shaw
R.I.
Who died on the 10 June, 1795
of [illegible] Newport Co in the State of R Island
who was a [illegible] [illegible] the [left blank] commanded
by Captain [left blank] of the [left blank] commanded by [left blank] [illegible] the Revolution [illegible] for [illegible]

Inserted on the Roll of R Island
at the rate of 30 Dollars [left blank] Cents per annum
to commence on the [illegible] day of March,  1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of June 
1837 and [illegible] to John [illegible], Esq
Portsmouth RI

Arrears to the 4th of March 37 180.00
[illegible] allowance ending [illegible] 15.00
195.00

Recorded by [illegible] Clerk,
Book [illeg] Vol. [illegible] Page 117
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V800. 3 [illegible]
Lydia Shaw
widow of Peter
R. Island.
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[small piece of paper overlain on larger piece. transcription of small piece follows]

Town Clerk's Office Little Compton October 11th A. 183[illegible].
I hereby certify that Peter Shaw Died in this Town January 10th 1795.
As appears of record in this office.
Witness [illegible signature] Town Clerk.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836
State of Rhode Island &c. }
County of Newport } ss     On this first day of October A. D. 183(illegible) personally appeared before the Court of Probate of Little Compton, in the town of Newport a court of record, Lydia Shaw a resident of said Little Compton in the Cunty of Newport and state of Rhode Island, aged Eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. 
That she is the widow of Peter Shaw, late of said Little Compton, and late a revolutionary soldier in the (illegible) or South Company of Militia in said town last named.  We were married for some time before the Revolutionary war and lived on the South shore near to the water in said town.  In the year 1775 there were frequent alarms on the shores, occassioned (sic) by the depredations of the notorious Capt Wallace, who with three armed vessels infested the Bay.  They frequently landed or attempted to land to drive of cattle sheep &c. and to plunder the inhabitants of whatever they could carry away during this period my husband was away in the alarms, for short periods.   I cannot say how long.  In December 1776 the Enemy's Fleet arrived and took possession of Rhode Island and all the waters of Narraganset Bay, this event brought them in the immediate neighborhood of our homes.  The shores of Little Compton being but little more than a mile from the enemy's encampment on the island.  We were then compelled to abandon ourselves to the mercies of the Enemy or protect ourselves and prevent them from receiving aid from this quarter by the establishment of a strong military force.  The latter (illegible) was resolved upon and the militia was called into the public service and the most prominent and convenient points and places on the shores were (illegible) for Guard Post.  At the time the enemy came to the Newport as aforesaid in Dec. 1776 the militia was called into the service to guard the shores and my husband was on duty all the succeding winter and i think until may 1777, the militia company to which he then belonged was divided so that half of the men were in the service at a time for one month at a time, ad they relieved each other, each one performing duly every alternate month, and this so continued until the enemy left Newport in November 1779.
My said husbands services at this period were at the guard posts in sd town on the south and west shores.  Under the officers of said Company of Militia namely Capt. Gideon Simmons, Capt Ephraim Simmons and Capt. Southworth and Coe at different periods of said war the Company belonged to the Regt of Col. John Cook.  After the Enemy left Rhode Island, in the year 1781 and 1782 in  my husband was drafted for a month at a time and went to Newport to Stand Guard the first time he went on I think in the spring of the year i heard him mention about the (illegible) troops whom he saw at Newport and his last service was performed in the summer of the last mentioned year aat Newport.  I do not know what officers he was under, I well remember the services of my sd husband during that time of tryal (trial.  we had to live upon a very little and the little we had, we were obliged to donate to keep it from falling into the hands of the enemy who were able to fall upon us when they came in numbers to overpower the guard.  a watch that belonged to my husband and my own and my children's clothing I have frequently had to carry out from the house and hide for fear that the enemy (the tory in the enemys employ were the worst)
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Rev WIDOW, &c.

File No. 2491
Lydia Shaw
wid of 
Peter Shaw
pri Rhd Isl

Act July 4, 1836

Index: Vol  M, Page 201

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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Lydia Shaw, $30 per ann.
Send cert: to John Cross, Esqr.
Portsmouth, R. I.
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I Francis Willbor of Little Compton in the County of Newport and state of Rhode Island, of lawful age, being duly sworn, declare That I was always acquainted with Peter Shaw, late of this town, deceased.  During the Revolutionary War, said Peter and myself belonged to the same Militia Company in this town and lived near to each other, after the English came to Rhode Island in December 1776our said company of militia were ordered into the public service, to guard the shores of said Little Compton against the enemy, all of our sd company was in the service on the guard post on the shores of sd town till the month of March 1777, then the company was divided and one half were on duty at a time for one month at a time, this continued until the enemy left Rhode Island in November 1779.  During this time I have been on duty with said Peter many times in the guard service, in the (illegible) afore said, we were and our own company was some of whom were always on duty, but not all of them at the same time,. Capt Simmons was (illegible) and the service than other of the other officers.  I have no means of knowing exactly the number of months said Peter served for sd public service, but according to my best recollection and belief he served, as many as seventeen months at the places, and in manner aforesaid. 
(Signed) Francis Wilbour

Personally appeared in open Court the above named Francis Wilbour known to be a credible witness, and subscribed and was duly sworn to the above deposition.  At Little Compton on the 30th day of September 1836.
Witness  A.R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
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State of Rhode Island &c. }
County of Newport } ss.

Clerks Office of the Court of Probate, a Court of Record, of Little Compton in sd County of Newport.
I hereby certify that Philip F. Little, whose signature is affixed is his own proper hand writing to the foregoing Deposition, of Owen Greenwell, was at the time of taking said depositions, a Justice of the Peace within and for sd. County of Newport, duly commissioned, under the seal of sd. State in and engaged thereon according to Law.  And that said Philip F. Little, is duly authorized to take depositions by the same of said State.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of said office on this 2d day of October A.D. 1836.
(Signed) A. R. Brownell  Clerk.
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State of Rhode Island &c ]
County of Newport } ss

Clerks office of the Court of Probate a Court of Record of Little Compton in sd County of Newport.

I hereby certify that Philip F. Little, whose signature is affixed in how own proper hand writing to the foregoing Deposition, of John Springer, was at the time of taking, said depositions, a justice of the Peace within and for sd County of Newport, duly Commissioned under the Seal of sd State and engaged thereon according to Law.  And that said Philip F. Little, is duly authorized to take depositions by the same of the said State.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said office on this 27th day of October A. D. 1836.
(Signed) A. R. Brownell  Clerk.