Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,704, Gideon Brownell, R.I.
Page 1

SERVICE
R.I.

Brownell, Gideon
Phebe

NUMBER
W. 23.704.
Page 2

246
Rhode Island 
Phebe Brownell of Newport in the State of R.I. who was a R.I.
widow of Gideon Brownell deceased late a private in the war of the revolution.  

Inscribed in the Roll of Rhode Island at a rate of $80.00         Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Nov.
1836 and sent to NY
Cross Portsmouth, R.I.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836  $440.00
Semi-ant. Allowance ending 4. Mar ‘37  40.00
                                                        $480.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by DD Addison Clerk,
Book -    Vol. /    Page 97
Page 3

Phebe Brownell 
  No. 510 pg 

  3. Sec.
wid of 
Gideon Brownell
Adm as pn 2 year $80 
per annum, currency 
4 March 1831

Militia of RI Capl
Simmons Col. Cook

In Cross
Portsmouth
RI
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836
State of Rhode Island 
County of Newport   ss.
On this first day of October A. D. 1836 personally appeared before the
Court of Probate Phebe Brownell of Little Compton in said County of Newport. a Court
of Records Phebe Brownell a resident of said Little Compton, aged Eighty 
four years upwards, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, in 
her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit 
of the Provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4.h 1836:
That she is the widow of Gideon Brownell, late of said Little Compton
in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island: That previous to her intermarriage
with said Gideon he was in the service of his country for a considerable 
time, and she believes eight months [“eights months” is underlined], she also believes he went to 
Boston, but she is not certain. Nor does she know the officers under whom he,
at that time, served: Soon after our marriage, my husband the said Gideon
was called into actual service in the 2nd or north company of militia of
Said Little Compton to which he then belonged and continued to belong
until the Enemy left Rhode Island, and until the month of March
1780. In the year 1776 the inhabitants of Little Compton, who are much
exposed by reason, of their almost insular situation, were frequently alarmed 
by the predatory excursions of Capt. Wallace, who was then in the Bay, and 
who endeavored to Harass and plunder those on the the shores, unless they were
known to be friends to his Royal Master — He had few favorites in sd. [said] 
Town of Little Compton — My said husband, was called on these alarms, two or
three times. I cannot say certainly how many, up to the time the British
took possession of Newport in Dec. 1776. These services in these said alarms
in the year 1776 were of short duration. But when the Enemy took Newport and 
whole Island of Rhode Island, and the whole Bay was filled with his
armed shipping, and Barges. The militia had to keep a strong guard
at different and convenient posts on the shores, to watch his movements —
Page 5

and to prevent their foraging parties from attaining supplies — our homes from
being plundered, our pensions robbed and carried prisoners away — at this time
the militia company to which my said husband belonged, were so divided or
clossed [closed] off, that half of said company were in the services for [“half” is crossed out and “the whole” is inserted] of
the time on their own account, by turns of one month each — each part of 
the company being in the service every alternate month — I never can forget my
said husbands service during all the period the enemy held Rhode Island —
and in fact during the whole war — I never laid myself down at night without
apprehension for my own safety — knowing that a cruel and vindictive enemy might use
us in the space of thirty minutes, from their encampments on Rhode Island — Nor was
my own safety the greatest of my anxieties — my husband was away and was always
in danger — need not, I cannot describe my then emotion — I well remember that
my said husband was then in the service, in said Company of militia for 
at least half of the time on his own account during the whole time the enemy
occupied Rhode Island, as sergeant, he went on Rhode Island in The time 
of Sullivan’s Expedition, and again some time after the enemy left Rhode 
Island — And I further know, and on my oath declare, that my said 
Husband, the said Gideon, did perform, as a Substitute for his father.
many months service, in the same company of militia, from the month
of December 1776 to November 1779 — his said Father the late Pearce Brownell —
belonged to the same militia company and had a large family to support.
so that the time my said Husband was in the service, on his own account
and as a substitute for his father, was nearly all the time the enemy occupied 
Rhode Island as aforesaid — I think that my said Husband was in the service 
aforesaid as a substitute for his father not less than eight months, or eight tours
of one month each. Capt. George Simmons Commanded said Company of militia
and Rowse Pearce and John Davis were also officers in said company and it belonged
to the Regiment of Col. Cook and afterwords of Col. Bailey — said services were
performed at the guard posts in said Town, on the south and western shores and north as
far as Howland ferry in Tiverton, and on Rhode Island as aforesaid. During all the 
time aforesaid we lived near the old Friends meeting house in said Little Compton
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In March 1780 we removed from sd. [said] Little Compton to Mendon in the state of Massachusetts, 
and [insert “may it be said”] was immediately thereupon enrolled in the militia of said Town — 
in a company commanded by Capt. John Benson — and from the time of their  
removal as aforesaid to the close of the war, her said husband was drafted or detained 
from said Company, and marched away into the service, two tours at least.
but I am unable to say for how long a period at either time, or to what place they 
went — Owing to old age, and the great Length of time that has elapsed since 
the service [insert “was”] performed by my said husband, the said Gideon, in the war of the revolution, I cannot be precise, or to the particular days on which his service began and ended — I have no documentary evidence in relation to the same.
I further Declare that I was married to the said Gideon Brownell on the 
24th day of March, Seventeen hundred & seventy six (1776): That my husband 
the aforesaid Gideon Brownell died on the 27th day of September A.D. 1818; and 
that I have remained a widow ever since that period, as will more 
fully appear by reference to the Proof hereto annexed.
My husband never drew a pension.
          her
Phebe + Brownell
         mark
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before and in open Court. 
And Said Court certifies, that they believe the statements herein 
made by said Phebe Brownell, are true — And that she is a credible person. — 
And the Court further certifies that sd. [said] Phebe is the widow of sd. [said] Gideon 
late of this town deceased, and that she never married after sd. [said] Gideons decease. 
I Alexander R. Brownell Clerk of sd. [said] Court of Probate, do hereby certify, that 
the foregoing, are the original proceedings, in the Application of sd. [said] Phebe Brownell for a 
pension.
In Testimny where, I have hereunto set my hand and 
seal of office, this 30th day of September, A.D. 1836 — And of American 
Independence the Sixty first. —
Witness - A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
Page 7

Town Clerks office, Little Compton October 12th 1836.
I certify that Gideon Brownell of this town died September 27th 
A.D., 1818.
All of which appears of record in this office.
Witness A.R. Brownell Town Clerk.[name is underlined]
Page 8

Town Clerk’s Office Little Compton October 11th 1836.
I hereby certify that Gideon Son of Pierce Brownell & Ruth his
Wife & Pheby Daughter of Robert Brown & Elizabeth his Wife were
this day Joined in Matrimony Dated Little Compton March 24 AD. 1776.
Pr, Jonathan Ellis Clerk.
All of which appears of record in this Office 
Witness A.R. Brownell Town Clerk. [name is underlined]
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Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23704
Phebe Brownell
Wid [widow] of
Gideon Brownell
Priv [Private] Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:— Vol. A, Page 92
[Arrangement of 1870.]

July - 3 - 1901
Mr. M.W. Whiting
Prov. R.I.
May 17, 1904, His to 
Miss Marion Smith
Page 10

I Francis Wilbur of Little Compton in the County of 
Newport and State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, being 
duly sworn, on my oath declare = That during the Revolutionary 
War the late Gideon Brownell of this town — was a sergeant 
in the North Company of militia in said town under the Command 
of Capt George Simmons — I also belonged to the militia 
of the South Company — and we frequently used to stand guard 
together at the same Post, or an adjoining post — Said Gideon 
I know stood guard for his Father the late Pierce Brownell, 
who was a weakly man — and had a large family — I do not 
know how many months he served for his father — I know 
he was in the service most all of the time for nearly three 
years while the British were on Rhode Island — he was 
a good soldier and loved to be in the service — the service 
were for one month at a time — there were persons who made 
it a business to go for others, and be in the service. most all of 
the time the Enemy held Rhode Island — I have been with 
said Gideon several times. During sd. [said] period — and have seen him 
in the service when I was not with him — I saw him in Rhode 
Island in Sullivans Expedition in August 1778 —
Francis Wilbur [signature]
Personally appeared in open Court, the above named Francis Wilbur, 
known to be a credible Witness, and subscribed, and was duly sworn to the 
above deposition — At Little Compton on the 1st day of October 1836.
Witness — A.R. Brownell Probate Clerk. [name is signed and underlined]
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I Gideon Tompkins of Little Compton in the County of Newport and
State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, being duly sworn, 
declare, that I was well acquainted, in his life time, with 
the late, Gideon Brownell of this town, — he was a sergeant in 
the militia of sd. [said] Town, during the Revolutionary War — 
from December 1776 to April 1777 he was stationed at 
the guard post at Seakonnett Point — under Capt Simmons — 
I was then with him — afterwards he stood for the north on the shores 
and I was not with that I recollect — I saw him much in the 
public service afterwards — and I then understood, and believe 
that he stood guard, many times for his father — the late
Pearce Brownell, who belonged to the same militia 
company — until the enemy left Rhode Island  in December 
1779 — I saw him on Rhode Island in August 
1778 but I believe he did not belong to the same company 
that I did —
Gideon Tompkins [signature]
Personally appeared in open Court, the above named Gideon Tompkins, 
known to be a credible witness, and subscribed, and was duly sworn to the 
above deposition — At Little Compton on the 12th day of October 1836.
Witness — A.R. Brownell Probate Clerk. [name is signed and underlined]
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I Benedict Palmer of Little Compton in the County 
of Newport and State of Rhode Island, aged eighty two years 
and upwards, being duly sworn, Declare — That I was well 
acquainted with the late Gideon Brownell of this town, from 
my youth — during the war of the revolution, we both resided in 
said Little Compton and belonged to the militia of said town — 
After the British came to Rhode Island in Winter of 1776 — the 
militia were called into the service, to guard the shores — at the guard 
posts on the southern and western borders of the Town = our course 
of duty from the Spring after the enemy came to Newport, till they 
went away, was for every man to stand half of the time — for one 
Month at a time — I know that said Gideon, was much of said 
time in the public service as a sergeant, I have been with [insert “him”] many 
times on duty at the guard posts, at the Red House, at the Richmond 
house, at the Langley house, and at the guard post near Seakonnett 
Point — we served under different officers at different times and 
at different places — officers belonging to the said militia = during the
time the enemy occupied Rhode Island. Said Gideon, was 
in the service under Capt Simmons, and William Richmond 
and Benjamin Coe, and John Davis, I was with him under all 
of these — I was with him on Rhode Island in Sullivan’s Expedition 
in the summer of 1778 — I think we were under Col. Cook — 
I have seen said Gideon, in the service when it was not 
my time to serve — I understand at the time and believe, that 
he served in said public service, as a substitute for his father 
who belonged to the same Company — I am unable to state the 
exact time of the service of said Gideon, during said war — 
but I know he was in the service much of the time, and 
according to my best recollection and belief he served as 
much as two years at the least, during the period that the Enemy 
occupied Rhode Island — 
               his
Benedict + Palmer
             mark
Personally appeared, in open Court, the above named Benedict Palmer, known 
to be a credible witness, and subscribed, and was duly sworn to the above deposition
At — Little Compton on the 1st day of October 1836.
Witness A.R. Brownell Probate Clerk. [name is signed and underlined]
Page 13

Providence June 27
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir -
Will you be kind enough to tell
me if the name of the widow 
of one Gideon Brownell a
native of Little Compton
Rhode Island is recorded
in your office as drawing 
pension. I think her name 
was Phebe. He was my
grandfather and I with
other relatives are anxious
to learn the military
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record of Gideon Brownell
whether a private or officer
in the Revolution.
Any information will be
very useful.
I was referred to you by
Mr Ainsworth Reserd and 
Pension Office
Yours Respct. [Respectfully]
Mrs M. W. Whitney
87 John St.
Providence
R.I.
Page 15

1546 Howard Avenue,
Washington, D.C.,
May 7, 1904.
Sir:
Please furnish me such
information as you can in 
regard to the Revolutionary
service of:
1. Gideon Brownell, enlisted
Dec., 1776, at Little Compton,
R.I., under Captain Simmons
Page 16

And Col. Cook of Rhode Island,
His widow Phoebe (Brown)
received a pension from
about Oct. 1, 1836.

2. Captain (afterwards Major) John
Moore who served in Col. John
Stark’s New Hampshire regiment,
and his son Goffe Moore,
whose widow,  Betsy McKinney
received a pension application
for pension dated Aug. 7, 1832.

Very respectfully
(Miss) Marian Smith