Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5062, for Francis Munn, Rhode Island
Page 1

SERVICE  NUMBER
R.I. Munn, Francis S 5062
or Williams
carded
Page 2

Ohio - 13329
Francis Munn
of Athens Co. in the State of Ohio
who was a Private of artillery in the C. - commanded by Captain Gibson of the Reg.t commanded by - in the R. Island line for 15 mos.
           50
$ 62. ----
          100

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 62. Dollars 50. Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.


Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of June
1833. and sent to AG  Brown.  Athens. A.Co. Ohio.

Arrears to the 4th of March. 1833.  125.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 33.  31.25
$156.25

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm R. Palmer, - Clerk
Book E. Vol.8. Page 16.
Page 3

State of Ohio }
Athens County } ss

on this 13th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of commonpleas nowseting [sic] Francis Mun [sic] a resident of Rome township in said county aged 69 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the benifit [sic] of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832  that he enlisted in to the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated  He enlisted at Providence Rhode Island for the term of fifteen months his Captains name was Gibson the Lieutenant and Ensign both by the name of Westeut [?] joined the regiment at Bristol served in a company of artilery [sic] lay ^at^ Providence through the winters following the next seson [sic] went to Rhode Island was in the battle at that place served the full term of fifteen months and was honorably discharged he then went to Rhode Island enlisted for twelve months to drive waggon [sic] for General Cornall served through the summer went to Pompton and spent the winter ^in taking care of Borrey [?] in the spring returned to Providence Rhode Island and there was discharged his Majors name was Wereut [?] he think his Colonels name was Elliot he by the advice of the officer who enlisted him; enlisted by the name of Francis Williams he having deserted from the British army a short time before he enlisted he was known by no other name but Francis Williams. if he is found on the records of that regiment it will ^be^ by that name and no other he was born Norfolkshire England he left England at 15 years of age come [sic] to America on bord [sic] of a 74 gun ship called
Page 4

Bedford he served two years as Cabinboy [sic] on ^board^ the Bedford he then deserted from that ship and went to Newyork enlisted in the British service staid [sic] with them one winter ["the deserted," scratched out] in the spring moved to Rhode Island he there climb [sic] and apple tree staid on it all knight [sic] till the guard was taken away in the morning he then got down went to Bristor ferry and swam a cross [sic] and enlisted in the American service as before mentioned he thinks it was in the month of may or June but being verry [sic] illiterate he disremembers [sic] the day and year 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whateve [sic] to apention [sic] or annuity accept [sic] the presant [sic] and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state

sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Henry Bartlett Clerk A.C. Pleas

    his
Frances [sic] X Munn
    mark
[the X indicates "his mark"]

We / Daniel Steward & Harry Hatch residents in Athens County afforesaid [sic] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Francis Munn who has sworn to and subscribed the above deleration [declaration] that we believe him to be 69 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier ^of^ the revolution and ^we concur in ^ that opinion sworn to and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid

Henry Bartlett Clerk A. C. Pleas

Daniel Steward [signature]
Harry Hatch [signature]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and 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 Daniel Stewart and Harry Hatch who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the County of Athens & State of Ohio are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit

I Henry Bartlett Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas forsaid [sic] County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Francis Munn for a Pension, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this thirteenth day of October A.D. 1832.

Henry Bartlett Clerk
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Francis Munn

Athens County,
Ohio

13.329

Admitted 1 year and
3 Months. Artillery

A. G. Brown [?] Esq.

Athens
Athens Co.
Ohio
Page 6

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Officer
24th [?] June 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: ⎬). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Francis Munn Athens Co. Ohio
Page 7

std form with no specific info - not transcribed
Page 8

std form with no specific info - not transcribed
Page 9

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

December 19, 1924

Mrs. L. Austin
2373 Champlain St.
Washington, D.C.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 5062, it appears that Francis Munn was born at Norfolkshire, England, date not stated.

When fifteen years of age he left England and came to America on board a seventy-four gun ship, the Bedford, on which he served two years as cabin boy, then deserted from that ship and went to New York and enlisted in the British service. He staid there one winter and in the spring, about May, 1777, while at Newport, Rhode Island, he again deserted, making his escape by climbing an apple tree one night, remaining there until the guard was removed in the morning, when he went to Bristol Ferry and swam across. He enlisted in the American service at Providence, Rhode Island in May or June, 1777, and served fifteen months as private in Captain Gilson's Company
of Artillery and was in the battle of Rhode Island. He then enlisted for twelve months under Colonel Elliott to drive wagons

(handwritten note:  age was omitted.  See Miss Wilson's note on letter of Nov 7 1915)
Page 10

for General Cornell. By the advice of the enlisting officer he enlisted under the name of Francis Williams, because of his desertion from the British Army.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, while a resident of Rome Township, Athens County, Ohio.

There is no data on file as to his family.


Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner
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Athens, O., May 23, 1924,

W S Pension Dept
Washington D C

I am a descendant of Francis Munn, who served in the Revolutionary War and drew a pension. 

He came from England.

Any information you can give me in regard to him as when he came from England, his enlistment in the continental army, age, and date of death and any other information will be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

J.L.C. Kelley
Athens, O,

P.S. Some of them spell their name Muns, but I think he spelled it -- Munn.

[Circular Stamp]
PENSION
U.    S.
OFFICE
[Date in Center]
MAY
26
1924
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Francis Munn -- Declaration

Filed Oct. 19 1823.
H. Bartlett Clerk

Address
A. Brown
Athens
Athens Co.
Ohio
Page 13

Supplementary to the Declaration of Francis Munn.

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Athens in the State of Ohio, Francis Munn, who I am satisfied is the same individual named in the original Declaration to which this is supplementary, who being, duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age & consequent loss of memory, as well as his entire ignorance of letters, he cannot swear positively as to the precise periods of the war he served, but according to the best of his recollection he did not desert from the British army which lay at the Newport Rhode Island, until after the taking of Gen. Prescott by Col. Barton, he thinks in May, (1777), that he enlisted in the American service the same season, he remembers particularly that at the time cherries were beginning to ripen. That he enlisted in Capt Gilson's Company of Artillery as stated in his declaration, and was in the battle on Rhode Island, remembers that in the battle an ^artillery^ horse had his hind legs shot off while he was standing by his neck, that he distinctly recollects that he served in Capt. Gilson's Company from the time he enlisted which he believes to have been May or June (1777) Fall after the battle on Rhode Island (Aug. 29., 1778) a period not less than 15 months, and for such service he clams a Pension. That he knows no person now living by whose testimony he can make positive proof of his services, but he recollects many years since having mentioned mentioned frequently to Judge Hatch and others that he had been a soldier of the Revolution & that he has frequently mentioned particulars of his service in such conversations. That the reason of his not obtaining the certificate of a clergyman to his original declaration was that he was acquainted with but one in his Township & who was absent at the time, that Daniel Stewart who signed his certificate is Class Leader in the Methodist society. That Harry Hatch who also signed this since [?], was a young man of excellent character, who is since dead [has since died] 

Sworn & subscribed before me this 9th day }
of May A.D. 1833, and I hereby certify from }
personal acquaintance with Daniel Stewart }
and the late Harry Hatch, that the statement }
of the deponent respecting, them is true & }
correct.  A. Brown Jus. Peace.

[Signed to the right of the above paragraph]

   his
Francis X Munn
   mark

[The X indicating his signature]

State of Ohio }
Athens County } ss.:

Before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally came Elijah Watch, who holds the office of an Associate Judge in said County, and upon whose statements entire reliance may be placed, who being duly sworn according to law deposes & says for many years, that he has often heard him relate circumstances of his deserting from the British Army and joining the American, having an Artillery horse killed while standing by him, as also his being employed as a Wagoner and in this care of horses for a long time in the army, and this long before any thought was entertained of his applying for a Pension.

Sworn & subscribed this 11th day of May }
1833 Before me, A. Brown Jus. Peace } 

[Signature to the left of the above paragraph]
E. Hatch

I Henry Bartlett, Clerk of the Court of Common [Pleas] in & for the County of Athens in the State of Ohio, hereby certify that A. G. Brown Before who in the above dispositions purports to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, and that the above signatures purporting to be his are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto put my hand & affixed my seal of office, this 13th day of May, 1833.

Henry Bartlett Clerk
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Rev. and 1812 War Section.

June 26, 1924.

J. L. C. Kelley,
Athens, Ohio.

Sir;

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 5062, it appears that Francis Munn was born in 1763 at Norfolkshire, England, and when fifteen years of age left England and came to America on board a seventy four gun ship, the " Bedford ", in which he served two years as Cabin Boy, then deserted and went to New York and enlisted in the British service, stayed with them one winter; in the spring moved to Rhode Island, and while there climbed an apple tree one night where he remained until the guard was removed in the morning, when he got down, went to Bristol Ferry, swam across it and enlisted at Providence, Rhode Island in May or June 1777 and served fifteen months as a private in Captain Gilson's Company
Page 15

of Artillery, and was in the battle of Rhode Island.

He then enlisted for twelve months under Colonel Elliot to drive wagons for General Cornell. By the
advice of the enlisting officer, he enlisted under the name of Francis Williams, because of his desertion from the British Army.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, while a resident of Rome Township, Athens County, Ohio.

There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 16

(transcription reflects edits added to typed letter in handwriting)

Nov 9, 1915

Mrs L Austin
Elmo, Montana

Madam: 

In response to your letter of the 1 instant, you are advised that from the papers in the claim Sur File No 5,062, Rev War, it appears that Francis Munn was born in Norfolkshire,  England, date not stated, and when fifteen years of age left England and came to America on board a seventy four gun ship, the " Bedford ", in which he served two years as Cabin Boy, then deserted from that ship and went to New York and enlisted in the British service, and again deserted in the spring 1777 in Rhode Island, where he climbed an apple tree one night where he remained until the guard was removed in the morning, when he got down, went to Bristol Ferry, swam across it and enlisted at Providence, Rhode Island in May or June 1777 as a private in Captain Gilson's Company of Artillery, and was in the battle of Rhode Island; served fifteen months.

He then enlisted for twelve months under
Page 17

Elliot to drive wagons for General Cornell. By the advice of the enlisting officer he enlisted under the name of Francis Williams, because of his desertion from the British Army.

He was allowed pension on an application executed October 13, 1832, while a resident of Rome Township, Athens County, Ohio.

There is no data on file as to his family.

Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissione
Page 18

Elmo, Montana
Nov 1st - '15

Pension Office
Washington DC

Gentlemen:

Will you kindly advise me if there is any record of Francis Munn and Joseph Wickham ever drawing a pension - both Revolutionary soldiers

Very respectfully,

Mrs L Austin
Page 19

1915 Nov 9 - Hist to Mrs L Austin
1924 June 26 - Hist to J.L.C. Kelley
1924 Dec 19 - Hist to Mrs L Austin

*****

5062

Revolutionary

INVALID
File No: 5062
Francis Munn
Privt - Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832

Index:  Vol M, Page 268

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 20

Dec 2, 1924

Pension Dept
Washington DC

Dear Sirs:

I am a descendant of Francis Munn, a veteran of the Revolution War.

Will you kindly give me what information you have on record concerning him.

Sincerely

Mrs L Austin
2373 Champlain St
Washington DC

(stamp of received in PENSION OFFICE Dec 4 1924)