Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,698, for Christopher Shippee, Rhode Island
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R.I.    Shippee, Christopher   S.30698
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10.220
Massachusetts
Christopher Shippel
of Charlemont in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Wilmarth of the Regt commanded
by Col R. Try in the R. I. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 80. Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of March 1833 and sent Hon Lee Grennell Greenfield Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 $40.00
$200.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk,
Book C Vol. 2a Page 76
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Christopher Shippee
22.325
 
2 Years 0 mo

E. Alvord Esq
Greenfield Mass
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BRIEF in the case of Christopher Shippee
of Charlemont in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? Eighty four years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.


"He enlisted in November 1775 and
was discharged in November 1779 - during this period, he was not all the time in actual service, but from the close calculation he can now make can state with confidence and a good degree of certainty that he was in actual service Two years and two months, within a very few days."

5. In what battles was he engaged? None named
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Gloncester, R.I.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness and traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correctly authenticated
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
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Christopher Shippee
Charlemont
D
22325

Christopher Shippee 
Declaration
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Franklin
On this fourteenth day August 1832 personally
appeared in open court before the Justice
of the Court of Common [illegible] at Greenfield within & for the County of
Franklin now sitting Christopher
Shippee a resident of Charlemont in the
County of Franklin & Commonwealth
of Massachusetts aged eighty four years
the twenty second day of July last
who being first duly sworn according to
Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the [illegible] of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
That he ventured the service of the United States under Capt Timothy Wilmarth in the month in the regiment light infantry commanded by Col Richard Fry - I entered company a volunteer the last days
of November A.D. 1775 in the town of
Glocester in the County of Providence in the
State of Rhode Island in which the
town I then resided-- Brigadeer General
Wm West commanded the Brigade in
which was embraced but Frys ridgement
After having enlisted as above named
we marched through Providence & burth
(I think) & Warren to Bristol when we
were stationed during the whole period I was in the army. I was not engaged in any regular battle, but the enemy was off against Bristol, &
was and ally fired their heavy guns
into the town during this period
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General La Fayette had some command
at the building the Fort west of Providence City I have no documentary evidence
of having been in the army, but a Mr Selas 
[Kippy] now living in Clarksburgh in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts served with me in the same company (say a some three months,) & knows
that I was in the service as I have stated.
I was discharged from the army the
last day of November A.D. 1779 by Capt Timothy Willmarth-- I was not
in actual service during the whole [freed]
I have named, but stood in constant
readiness when not in actual
service stood ready to releave those
who were out one half the time, as
5 days on a month at a time,
as can [illegible] or necessity required-
It is impossible there four after
such lapse of time to determine with
precise accuracy and the exact time I was
in actual service, but from the closest
calculation that I can now make I
can state with confidence to  a good
degree of certainty to that I was in actual
service during the period from Nov 1775
to Nov 1779 period of two years & two months  within [illegible] days - I have
lived in Charlemont where I now reside
some fifty years

The [illegible] Christopher [illegible] relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity
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except the present & declares that his name
is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Recorded to and subscribed the day &
year aforesaid
Attest E. Alvord Clerk
Christopher Shippee


Joseph Fields a clergyman residing in Charlemont & Levi Stearns of the same Charlemont hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Christopher Shippee 
who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty four years of age, that 
he is reputed & has lived in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
concur in that opinion 
Joseph Fiske Clergyman
Levi Stearns
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest E. Alvord Clerk
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and that Levi Steams who has also signed
the same is a resident in the same town
& is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Attest E. Alvord Clerk

I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the court aforesaid do herby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Christopher Shippee for a pension
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & seal of office this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred & thirty two
E. Alvord, Clerk
Interogatories by the Court
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION
3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S. 30698

Washington, D. C.  192
In reply to your request of ______, for the history of Christopher Shippee, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, following is taken from the
claim for pension.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT: Nov 75
LENGTH OF SERVICE: I served at various times 2 yrs & 2 mos ending in Nov 1779S
RANK: Private
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN: Timothy Wilmarch
COLONEL: Richard Fry
STATE: R.I.
Battles engaged in:
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Gloucester, R.I.
Date of application for pension, Aug 14 1832. 
Residence at date of application, Charlemont Franklin Co. Mass
Age at date of application, 84
Remarks: no fam. data

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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30698
INVALID.
---

File No 30.698
Christopher Shippee
Liv Rev War
Act: June 7 32
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 366
Arrangement of 1870
1923 July 18 Hist. [illegible] L. Quick
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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 .
Christopher Shippee 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? Yes
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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

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; Foryear
----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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection
able. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed
in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating:
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 ends 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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I Silas Shippy of Clarksburgh in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts
of lawful age do depose & say that
I am personally acquainted with Christopher Shippee of Claremont in the County of Franlin, have been more or less acquainted with him
for some sixty years known him to 
the about six years older than myself who am seventy eight years old in November last
serve in company of light infantry commanded by Capt Timothy Wilmarth in a regiment commanded by Col Richard Fry - When [ilegible] and called out  [illegible] was in Nov 1776 (I think) we marched immediatly to
Bristol in the State of Rhode Island
due stationed there until the
sixth of January following - personally know that Christopher was in actual service in turn thru Jan months and I left him in the service when I left this company & [regard]
for another & were enlistment of
the which I knew nothing of his engagements in the army of the revolution cut from a relations
And further this deponent saith not.
Adams August S.
Silas Shippey
1832
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Christopher Shippee
Silas Shippey Off
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
[?] of August 8th 1832
Personally appeared Silas Shippey Esquire
to me well known & made oath to the
truth of the within deposition by him
subscribed before me the subscribed
one of the justices of the peace for
said County & I do certify that [?] 
time to did depostion is in his own
hand writing & that the handwriting of
said deponent for truth & veracity is
unimpeachable
Nathan Putnam Justice of the Peace
25


Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Berkshire SS.
I Charles Sedgwick a Clerk of the
Court of Common Mass for said County of Berkshire do certify that Nathan Putnam Esq before whom the foregoing deposition was taken in a Justice of the Peace for said County of Berkshire duly commissioned & qualified
as such that the foregoing signature
purporting to be his is genuine 
In testimony whereof I have
herewith set my hand & affixed
the seal of said Court this
Eleventh day of August AD 1832 
Cha  Sedgwick Clerk
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Stamped Env. 

Ashton, Illinois
June 12, 1923.
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am seeking admission to the D.A.R.
society through Christopher Shippee
who was one of the "minute men" of the
Revolution and who had four years of
service in the Continental army.  
Can you give me the page and volume of any
record in your office which would answer as proof of his war service, or a statement saying he was a Pensioner?
(I think he was living with his son, Christopher Shippee at at Readsboro Vt. when he died)
I would like also the date and place
of his birth, the date of his death, the date
of his marriage, and his wife's maiden
name. Can you supply these?
Thanking you, I am 
Very truly yours
Laila Quick
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Seal

US PENSION OFFICE
June 15 1923
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Stamp: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER 
JULY 12 1923
US BUREAU OF PENSIONS

L Box 315

Ashton, Ill.
July 10, 1923
Mr. Washington Gardner
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Some time ago I addressed a letter
to your office inquiring as to any record
you might have concerning the revolutionary
services of a certain Christopher Shippee, and have received no reply.
Since then, I have received the following information from Mr. Herbert O. Brigham, the State Record Commissioner at Providence R.I.
with the suggestions that I write to you for possible further information.
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He says. "Our records show that a
Christopher Shippee served as Private
Rhode Island Militia, became a
pensioner, resided in Berkshire Co, Mass, placed on pension roll Mar. 23 1833, pension commenced March 4 1831 age 84"
can you give me further information concerning him? T e D.A.R. have
requested, in order that my application be complete, the dates of his birth and death, the date of his marriage and the maiden name of his wife with dates of her birth and death.
Thanking you for a prompt reply.
I am
Very truly yours,
Laila Quick
Miss Laila Quick
Ashton, Illinois
Lee Co.