Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11396, for Ezra Simmons, Rhode Island
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(3-1776)
Service  Number
R.I.   Simmons, Ezra S. 11396
contents  carded
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10418,
Rhode Island
Ezra Simmons
of Kent in the State of RI
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain ---- of the Regt commanded
by Col Fry in the R I
line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of R I
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Apr
1833 and sent
Whitinger E Greenwich RI
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $160.
Semi-anl. allowance ending- 4 Sept 40
====
$200
====
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J H Mc Blair Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 20 Page 129.
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9347
Ezra Simmons
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State of Rhode Island in
County of Kent for
Court of Common Pleas August
Term AD. 1832
On this Twenty ninth day of August AD 1832 personally 
appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of
Common Pleas now sitting, Ezra Simmons, a resident
of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and State
aforesaid, aged Eighty two 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
Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered
the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated. That
he was born at Swansey in the County of Bristol
in the State of Massachusetts, on the nineteenth day
of March AD. 1750. where he lived until about two
years before the Revolutionary War, when he removed 
to said East Greenwich where he has resided ever
since. That he has a Record of his age in his family Bible.
That he joined the independent Company of volunteers called
the Kentish Guard at East Greenwich, commanded by
Col. Richard Fry in the forepart of December 1776 at the
time the enemy took possession of Rhode Island. We kept
a regular Guard at said East Greenwich at different
points at all times, except when relieved by the Militia
Companies; and that said Company were on guard for
a month or more at said East Greenwich, immediately
after this Claimant joined said Company before they were
relieved. That said Company were repeatedly called
out on alarms, at Quidnessett neck and other places on the ┃
Nar
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Narragansett Bay, while the enemy's Ships lay in the River and
Bay. That he well remembers being called in the night to
Quidnessett neck, in the Summer of 1777, with said
Company under Col. Fry to repel the enemy and to prevent the
plundering and carrying off the Inhabitants. That the enemy
had landed, and had burt [burnt] a house, and made prisoner
of the owner, a man by the name of John Allen and had
also plundered the house and carried off some stock. One of
their vessels of about 30 tons burthen got aground Col.
Ward was there and a part of the black Regiment. We
were fired upon by an armed Brig.  This Company
had one or two field pieces, with which we assailed the enemy
and drove off the Brig, and their other armed vessels;
except the sloop aforesaid, which we took and captured
some prisoners. Said Company continued to do duty in
guarding the shores at East Greenwich and on the West side
of the Bay, until the summer of 1778. when said Company
were called on to Rhode Island, and we served there one
month in Sullivan's Expedition. That said Company we're severally
on duty together in a body; but some time in separate detachments.
That so long as the entry were in possession
of Rhode Island, and their warlike vessels making excursions
up the River, they kept the Inhabitants near the shore
in constant State of alarm, and said Company were kept
upon the alert, and ready to march to any point on a moments
warning - That great fears were entertained that the
enemy would burn East Greenwich, as they had Bristol and
other places that were accessible to their vessels of war. and it
is believed that nothing but the vigilance and activity of ┃
the Kentish Guards, which consisted of 80 or 100 men, prevented ┃
them from effecting that object. In the Summer of the
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I Joseph Manchester of Coventry in the County of Kent do
hereby certify that Ezra Simmons of East Greenwich in
the County of Kent became a volunteer in the Independent
Company of Kentish Guards sometime in the latter
part of the year 1776 and that he continued a member
of said Company and did duty therein till the
close of the war; and I certify that I was a 
member of said Company during all that time.
Joseph Manchester

I Wanton Casey do hereby certify that I was a member
of the Kentish Guards at East Greenwich, until
the month of Dec. AD. 1778, when I left the Company
and went to Europe, and Ezra Simmons of said East
Greenwich was also a member of said Company
and did duty therein from the latter part of the
year 1776, according to the best of my recollection until I went away.
Wanton Casey 
7th
Sent to Court of Common Pleas. August Term AD 1832
The above sworn to in open Court by Joseph Manchester
Wanton Casey Esqr on the seventh day of the Term
Witness John Brown Clk
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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
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the
and that Joseph Manchester Esq of Coventry
& Wanton Casey Esqr of East Greenwich
who also signed the same are residents in the County of Kent & Towns aforesaid
and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, JOHN BROWN, Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Ezra Simmons
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
seal of office, this Sixth day of September
in the year 1832
John Brown
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the year 1780. This company were called on to Rhode Island under
said Col. Fry. and served there one month while the French
troops were at Newport, and while the enemy's Ships lay at
the entrance of Narragansett Bay. That this Applicant continued
to do duty in said Company until the close of the war.
and estimates his services at not less than two years and a half
in the whole. That he has no written discharge.

He hereby relinquishes his 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.
Ezra Simmons
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No. 9340
Ezra Simmons
Private 2 years
Papers not properly
authenticated
Nov 13. 1832
$80
N. Whiting Esq.
E. Greenwich R.I.
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Brief in the case of Ezra Simmons of the County
of Kent. in the State of R. Island
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
BRIEF in the case of
of Kent
1.Was the declaration made before a Court or 
 a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 82 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
In 1776. 77.78
79 & 1780
Duration of Service.
Years,
2
Duration of Service.
Months,
6
Days.
--
Rank.
As a
Volunteer
Names of General and field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Kentish Guards commanded
by Col. Richard Fry
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? E. Greenwich
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence,
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
no Clergyman's Certificate
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
S
evin Belt
Examining Clerk.
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Rev War
11396
INVALID.
-
File No.
11396
Ezra Simmons
Priv. Rev. War
---
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 342
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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No. 9340.
Ezra Simmons
he
N. Whiting Esqr
E. Greenwich R I.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Ezra Simmons
which require further
proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? [no is crossed out]
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [no is crossed out]
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
----------
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ___ year
 ____ months and ____ days, I served as a ____. For ____ months
and ____ days, I served as a ____ ; and for such service I claim a pension."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly anthenticated, as above directed.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
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State of Rhode Island Sc
County of Kent Sc
On this first Day of December AD. 1832. Personally appeared
Ezra Simmons of East Greenwich in said County before
Joseph J. Tillinghast, an Associate Justice of the Court
of Common Pleas in said County, who being sworn according
to law, doth, on his oath, make the following
statement Supplementary to and in amendment
of his Declaration made before the Court of
Common Pleas in said County at their August
Term AD. 1832. That in the month of December 
AD. 1776 he served as a volunteer and was on actual
duty, in the said Company of Kentish Guards
at East Greenwich the term of Twenty five days
or more. That in the year 1777 he was in the actual
service and on duty in said Company, at said
East Greenwich, Warwick and at Quidnesett neck
in North Kingstown, the term of six months at
least. That in the year 1778. he was in actual
service and on duty in said Company for the
term of six months at least at said East Greenwich, on Rhode Island, at Warwick and
North Kingstown. That in the year 1779 he
was in actual service in said Company at
least six months, at said East Greenwich, War
wick and North Kingstown. That in the year
1780, he was in actual service and did duty
in said Company six months or more at
said East Greenwich, Warwick, North Kingstown
and on Rhode Island. That in the year 1781
he was in actual service and did duty in
said
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said Company at least three months at said East
Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingstown; And
that in the year 1782. he was on duty and did
actual service at the place aforesaid, three
months at least; making in the whole Two years
six months and twenty five days at least for which
he claims a pension
Ezra Simmons
Kent jc at East Greenwich
Sworn to and subscribed by the said
Ezra Simmons the day and year
within written,
Before me Jos J Tillinghast
Justice C C Pleas 
I James Miller of East Greenwich in the County of Kent
and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy eight years
do certify that I have been well acquainted with Ezra
Simmons of said East Greenwich on applicant for a
pension for Fifty years or more, that I believe him to be Eighty two years old
has always been a good character; and he has been
reputed in the neighbourhood in which he resides
to have been a soldier or volunteer in the service of
the Revolutionary War, and in this opinion I  concur.
James Miller
Kent Jc. at East Greenwich
Sworn to and subscribed by the said
James Miller this 1st day of December 1832
I hereby certify that the Deponants
character for Truth & Veracity is good
Witness Jos. J Tillinghast
Just C C Pleas
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Ezra Simmons
Kent jc The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Joseph J. Tillinghast is a
Justice of said Court, that the aforegoing
is his proper signature & in his own
hand writing
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
name & seal of Office at East Greenwich
this third day of December in the year 1832
John Brown Clk