Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38560, Jonathan Bliss, Navy
Page 1

Service Navy
Bliss, Jonathan.
Number S 38560
[faint handwriting below "R. J residence and Agency in 1823."]
Page 2

Service Navy
Bliss, Jonathan.
Number S.38560 
R T Residence and Agency in 1823.
Page 3

Jany 18, 1902
F. B. Enslow, Huntington W. Va.
INVALID
Navy File No. 38560
Jonathan Bliss Mariner
Frigate Alfred
Revolutionary
Act March 18-1818
Page 4

19,161
Rhode Island
Jonathan Bliss of Providence in the state of R Island who was a Mariner in the Frigate Alfred commanded by Captain Paul Jones in the U.S. Navy for the term of 1777 9 months
[In]scribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 17 of September 1829 
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 of Jany 1824 and Sent to William H Smith Esq Providence R Island
Semi anl. all'ee ending 4 Mar 1824 $44.76
{Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820 & 1 March 18[cut off]}
Page 5

19,023
Jonathan Bliss Providence - C. RI
Wm H. Smith, Providence, R. I.
Rec'd 3 Dec 1823
[round mail cancellation stamp PROVIDENCE 26]
admutter Tencer morei
FREE [stamped]
[apparently this is a recycled envelope. Original addressee's name is longways on the envelope] Hon John C Calhoun Secretary of War Washington
Page 6

Providence Nov 25, 1823.
Honble John C Calhoun,
Sir, I enclose the schedule & of Jonathan Bliss applicant for a pension under the acts of Congress
Respectfully
your obed Svt 
[signed] Wm H Smith
Page 7

United States of America
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation County of Providence. At the Supreme Judicial Court of said State. September Term AD 1823.
Be it Remembered that on this seventeenth day of September A.D. Eighteen hundred & twenty three personally appeared in open Court, being a court of Record Jonathan Bliss aged Sixty Six years now resident in the town of Cranston in said county who, being duly sworn, maketh the following Declaration in order to obtain the provisions of the acts of Congress of the Eighteenth of March 18918 & May 1st 1820, making provision for certain persons engage in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war; Viz. Said Jonathan declares that in the month of September 1777 he entered on board the frigate Alfred under the command of Paul Jones Esq. a vessel belonging to the Navy as a mariner; that soon after the said frigate sailed on a cruise. Having been out about nine months, this applicant was put on board a prize taken from the enemy off Halifax and sent to New Bedford where she safely arrived, when he was discharged having served on board the frigate and prize about eleven months:
And the said Jonathan Bliss solemnly sworn that "I was a resident citizen of the United States on the Eighteenth day of March, one thousand Eight hundred & Eighteen, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner
Page 8

whatever disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval services of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the Eighteenth day of March, One thousand Eight hundred & Eighteen; that I have not nor has any person in trust for [illegible] any property or securities contracts, or debts other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by [illegible] subscribed. [signed] Jonathan Bliss.
Schedule of Property & [illegible] of necessary clothing & bedding excepted of Jonathan Bliss. Said Jonathan declares that he has no property of any description whatever; that he now lives with his daughter in said Cranston and works as a labourer when he is able & can find employment; that he is a sail maker by trade; but in consequence of leaving lost all his property he cannot carry on that [illegible] now. He has no family dependent on him for support; on the contrary, he depends on his daughter for support, with whom he now lives & who is also poor. Under these circumstances he thinks himself entitled to a pension, under the
Page 9

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation
Providence jp.
Supreme Judicial Court of said state September Term A.D 1823.
I William H Smith clerk of said court do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said Jonathan Bliss did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, under one engagement, on the continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in the value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Nothing. And I do further certify that the depositions of Nathaniel Cook and Nathan Tucker hereto annexed are truly copied from their several originals now on file in this office; and I do further certify that Thomas Rivers and David Atorich Esquires before whom said Depositions were taken are both justices of the Peace within said county duly qualified & that full faith is to be given to their several attestations as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my had and affixed the seal of the said court, on this Twenty fifth day of November A.D. 1823.
[signed] Wm H Smith Clerk of said court.
Nathaniel Cooke.
Providence jc. In Cumberland October 23, 1823.
Personally appeared before me the above named Nathaniel Cooke and made oath
Page 10

acts of Congress aforesaid. [signed] Jonathan Bliss.
Sworn to in open Court Sept. 17, 1823. 
[signed] William H Smith Clerk Valuation Nothing.
I Nathaniel Cook of Cumberland in the county of Providence in the State of Rhode Island do testify & say that in the month of September 1777, I entered as a mariner on board the Frigate Alfred, a vessel of War under the command of Paul Jones Esq to go on a cruise. And I further testify that I well remember a man by the name of Bliss.
I think his name was Jonathan who entered as a mariner at the same time I did on board said vessel. Said Bliss continued on board during the cruise unless he was put on board a prize. Our cruise lasted about Eleven months before we were discharged which took place at Boston. We took a number of prizes, on board of one of which, I presume said Bliss was just as he has stated in his application; but I do not after such a length of time particularly recollect that fact  [signed] Nathaniel Cooke.
Providence jc. In Cumberland October 23, 1823.
Personally appeared before me the above named Nathaniel Cooke and made oath
Page 11

to the Depositions by him signed. And I further certify that said Nathaniel is personally known to me; and that he is a respectable man & disinterested witness in the premises.
[signed] David Aldrick Just Peace
I Nathan Tucker of Smithfield in the county of Providence on solemn oath do certify & say that in the month of September 1777 he entered on board the frigate Alfred, a vessel of war in the service of the United States under the command of Paul Jones Esq as a mariner to go on a cruise against the enemy; that he served on board said frigate upwards of Eleven months before he was discharged and for his services he has received a pension a number of years:
I the said Nathan do further testify that I well remember Jonathan Bliss who is now present before me who was a mariner on board at the same time I was. Said Jonathan entered at the time I did, and continued on board about nine or ten months when he was put on board a prize which we took from the enemy; and I saw no more of him until after the cruise was over.
We cruised ff Halifax and at one time we took Seven sail out of one fleet & we could have took more if we had
Page 12

had men enough to have manned the prizes . These facts are within my perfect recollection
 Nathan Tucker his mark +

Providence jc. In Providence on the 4th day of September AD 1823 before me personally came Nathaniel Tucker signer to the written Deposition who is personally known to me and of whom I know nothing to impeach his credit as a witness, and made oath, that the said deposition contained the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth relating to the subject matter of said deposition.
Attest [signed] Thomas Rivers Justice of the Peace