Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20640, Caleb Austin, R.I.
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(3—1776)
SERVICE
R. I.
Austin, Caleb
Sarah
NUMBER
W.20640
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6053
Rhode island.
Sarah Austin, widow of Caleb Austin R I who was a pensioner under the Act of __________ and who died on the 5 April 1831.- of Kent in the State of Rd. Island who was a private in the Compy commanded by Captain ___________ of the Regt commanded by Col. Topham in the Rd. Island line for 15 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 50 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Feb. 1841 and sent to Jonas Titus, North Scituate, R. I.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840  $225.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Mar '41  25.00
Total  $250.00
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by Wm C. Lantzinger, Clerk,
Book A, Vol. 2, Page 1
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Caleb Austin
October ye 24
Sarah Austin
March ye 25 
Caleb and Sarah
Joined in Wedlock
February 4
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S. Austin
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STate of Rhode Island
County of Kent
On this thirty-first day of December AD 1840 personally appeared befoe Benjamin Tibbetts, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas which is sa count of record  Sarah Austin a resident of Warwick in the county of Kent and state aforesaid aged 71 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 proviisn made by the  Act of Congress passed July7 1838 entitled "The Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
That she is the widow of Caleb Austin who was a private in the War of the Revolution, that according to her best recollection and belief said Caleb enslist into Col Joh Trafton' s regiment the 16th day of December 1777 that he entered immediately upon duty in said regiment in Capt. Philips Trafton's company as a private soldier that said enlistment was or the space of fifteen months, which said Caleb served out in said Company & Regiment stationed at Tiverton in this state, but that  in August 1778 said Caleb and said regiment were marcch onto the Island of RHode Island under General Sullivam, but they soon afte returned to Tiverton this tour of duty ended on the 16th day of MArch 1779, on which day the said Caleb was discharged, when he enliste, he resided in the town of Canterbury in the State of Connecticut, and afterwards having served out his enlistment her performed some service in the Militia
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whereof she hath no record evidence; but is informed and believes that the tour in Col. Topham's Regiment will appear on the records in the War Department
She further declares that at the time of their marriage said Caleb & herself resided in West Greenwich in this State-  And she further declares that she was married to the said Caleb Austin on the thirteenth day of February in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty seven, that her husband, the aforesaid Caleb Austin died on the fifth day of April Eighteen hundred and thirty one, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz:  at the time above stated-  She further declares that she was ignorant of the act of Congress before named until some time in September last past, that at that ^time she was residing in the State of Connecticutt [Connecticut], that her son Benoni in the fore part of November last brought her to this State, since which time she has been unwell and too feeble to get abroad-  She further declares that the annexed record of her marriage to said Caleb is genuine & was taken from their family bible in her possession
her signature [hand drawn X] Sarah Austin
Sworn to and Subscribed, on the day and year above written  Before said Justice, who after maturely considering the premises and the
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evidence in support thereof is of opinion that said Caleb Austin served in the revolutionary war as is stated in said declaration; and it is further the opinion of said Justice that said Caleb and Sarah were joined in marriage as stated in said declaration, & that said Caleb died at the time therein stated & that said Sarah still continues he the said Caleb's widow-
Said Justice further certifies that it appears to him that said Sarah is a credible person whose statement is entitled to credit, & that by reason of bodily infirmity said Sarah is unable to go abroad for the purpose of attending on a Court to make this Declaration-
[Signature] Benjamin Tibbitts  
Justice C. of C. Pleas
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence sc
I Walter Paine Jr Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benjamin Tibbitts is one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Kent in said State, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 29th day of June 1840 & will expire on the first Wednesday of May 1841 and that his signature above written is genuine and also that his signature, to the affidavit of Anna Rice hereto annexed is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this first day of January AD 1841
[Signature] Walter Paine  Jr Clerk
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B Austin
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I Benoni Austin of Vernon in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut aged 49 years do say on oath that I am the second child of Caleb and Sarah Austin and was born in lawful wedlock, as I always supposed and believed, that I am now forty nine years of age, that there is a record in our family bible of my said fathers & mothers marriage which is genuine, that by said record it appears they were married in February A. D. 1787  the record is not now so plain as formerly, but that is its true date, I have often heard my father speak of his service in the Militia and in Col Tophams Regiment, I always understood that his tour of service was for one entire tour in Col Tophams Regiment, but cannot say as to its length, my mothers name was Case, before marriage & lived in West Greenwich Rhode Island, my mother, as I believe, was ignorant of the late pension law of 1838 untill in September last when I informed her of it & that she was entitled to a pension-  about which time I spok [spoke] to Mr Jonah Titus of Rhode Island to take the affidavit of the Hon. Benjamin Green of Coventry Rhode Island-
[Signature] Benoni Austin
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State of Rhode Island}
County of Providence} Sc
in Scituate on this 8th day of November A. D. 1840 personally appeared Benoni Austin signer of the within affidavit-  and under oath to the truth of the facts therein stated:  I also certify that it appears to me that he is a credible person whose statement is entitled to full credit
Before me
{Signature] Isaac Saunders  Justice Peace
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence Sc
I Walter Paine Jr Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that Isaac Saunders is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 11th day of May 1840, and will expire on the first Wednesday of May 1841, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this first day of January AD 1841
[Signature] Walter Paine  Jr. Clerk
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Anna Rice 
7603
Sarah Austin
R. I.
act 7 July '38
m 87- d 31
admd
15 mo pri
50$
No deduction
Jonas Titus Esqr
North Scituate
R. Id.
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I Anna Rice of Warwich in the county of
Kent & State of Rhode Island aged 51 years do say
on oath that I am the daughter of Caleb Austin
and Sarah Austin born in wedlock as I always was
informed and believe that my said father died on
the fifth day of April Eighteen hundred & thirty one
that since said Caleb's death said Sarah has llved
single and is still unmarried     Anna Rice

State of Rhode Island
Kent sc
On this 31st day of December 1840
personally appeared Anna Rice signer of the above
affidavit and made oath to the truth of the facts
therein stated.  I also certify that she is a cred-
ible person whose statement is entitled to
credit.  Before me-
Benjamin Tibbitts Justice C. C. Pleas
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Rev Widow
20640
Sarah Austin
Widow of
Caleb Austin
Priv. Rev. War
July 7th 1838
Vol. A, Page 22
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J. L. Edwards Coms of
Pensions
Washington City
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J. L. Edwards, Comm of Pensions
I enclose the papers in the case of Sarah
Austin, widow of Caleb Austin for a pension.
She wished me to take the deposition of Col Stephen
Young who knows of Austin's being in the service
but other engagements & cold weather have prevented,
and moreover, I consider that you will find a
record in your department of Ausitn's service;
if however the evidence is not satisfactory I will
send a Justice & have Col Youngs evidence taken-
I hope you will either send me a certificate on her
claim or advise me of the objection as soon as possible.
Yours with respect-
Jonah Titus
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B Greene
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I Benjamin Greene of Coventry in the county of
Kent and State of Rhode Island aged 80 years and engaged
according to law do testify and say that during the war
of the revolution I was well acquainted with Caleb
Austin, formerly of West Greenwich, but who afterwards
moved to the State of Connecticut where he died about
eight years last spring, said Caleb, in June 1778 when I enlisted
into Col John Topham's Regiment was then an enlisted
private in said Regiment and continued to do duty in said
Regiment in Captain Philip [illegible] company until
the 16th day of March 1779 when our times were out, said
Caleb's enlistment was for fifteen months all which he
served out as he, his captain and all others who ever spoke
to me on that point informed me; the service was a
fifteen months service but I was enlisted after a portion 
of the time had expired; we were stationed at Tiverton in
this state, but in Sullivans expedition went on to Rhode
Island, we were quartered in [illegible] and Gabriel Allen
was our paymaster of whom we received our pay in proper
money-said Caleb married Sarah Case of West Green-
wich, I think she now resides in Connecticutt; I received
pay for nine months anad ten days and for the same length
of time I know that said Austin served in said company
and Regiment and have no doubt but what he had also
served before I enlisted into said Regiment enough to
make out his fifteen months.
Benjamin Greene

State of Rhode island
County of Kent sc In Coventry in said county
and State on this twenty first day of September AD. 1840
personally appeared Benjamin Greene signer of the above
affidavit and made solemn oath that the facts therein
stated are true, I also certify that he is a person well
known to me and is a credible person whose statement
is entitled to credit.
Before me-Ebenezer Johnson Justice Peace
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The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence sc
I Walter Paine as Clerk of the Supreme
Judicial Court of the County and State aforesaid,
do hereby certify that Ebenezer Johnson is a
Justice of the Peace in and for the County of
Kent in said State, duly commissioned and
qualified; that his commission was dated on
the 29th day of June AD 1840 and will expire
on the first Wednesday of May 1841, and
that his signature on the opposite page written
is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this
first day of January AD 1841
Walter Paine Clerk