Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21091, John Fales, R.I.
Page 1

Service
R I         Fales, John      W.21091 
                         Martha
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R. Island  2-      3, 871
Martha Fales,
widow of John Fales,
RI
who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 1 October 1813
of Bristol in the State of R. Island
who was a Pers. in the County commanded by Captain Throop of the RaV commanded by Sparver in the R.I. line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of R Island at the rate of 20 Dollars ~ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of August '39 and seal by Bullock, Bristol, R. I.
Arrears to the 4th of March.- $60.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 10.00
                                          _____________
                                                      $70.00
                        { Act July 7,
                                 1838}
Recorded By R. Burdine    Clerk
Book A   Vol. 2   Page 8
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V 1387
Martha Fales
widow of John
    R.I
Act 7 July 38
In 83-

__ Amo fire
     amo
    lemofri
  20$
No deduction
N. Bullock
Bristol
R.I
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State of Rhode Island & 
County of Bristol}  Sc.
Church's Office learnt of Commander Plias, in and for the County
and State aforesaid.
I hereby certify that Joseph M. Blake-
whose signature is affixed in his own
proper hand writing to who taking of the aforegoing Depositions of Thomas Church Nelson Miller, Joseph Munro, Anne Finney, Jonathan Fales and Abby F. Bosworth. is a Justice of the Peace and authorized in said State, and engaged therein according to Law-
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
put my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this ^ twenty eighth day of August A. D. 1838
Wm Throop Clerk.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled," An act granting half pay and pension to certain widows."
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
County of Bristol Sc-
On this first Monday of August, 1838, personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session at Bristol, in said County of Bristol, Martha Fales, a resident of said Bristol, aged Seventy six years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her aoth make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision, made the the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled " an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows,". That she is the widow of John Fales late of said Bristol who was a private soldier and after words a sergeant in the Bristol Militia Company, commanded by Capt. William Throop during the Revolutionary war, that said John Fales was called out by the officers of said company to guard said Town, and work on fortification for its defense in the month of October 1775, as soon as the British squadrons, under command of Wallace had come borded the place; that he was stationed on that occasion at Poppasquash Point , where a Barrack was immediately created by said militia, for two or three weeks; that in the month of December 1776, the enemy landed in Newport and held it till the month of October 1779, during which time said John Fales served as a soldier in said militia company for half the time in standing guard at at the outposts on the shore of Bristol, with the exceptions of six weeks when he was marched out of town to Tiverton in General Spencer' expedition in 1777, and three months in Sullivan's expedition when the whole of said company as she believes were in actual service at the same time' that after the enemy left Rhode Island- and he was drafted or enlisted for six weeks service which he served out near Newport and then served for the same period as  substitute for one of his brothers at the same station on the Island; that she verily believes said John Fales served as a private soldier and sergeant during the Revolutionary was a period of more
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 than eighteen months;she further declares that she was married to said John Fales on the sixth day of September in the year seventeen hundred and eighty two, that her husband the aforesaid John Fales , died on the first day of October A.D 1813, 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 , {illegible}  at the time above stated.
           Martha Fales

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above  attested before said Court of Probate William Throop, Probate Clerk

I Wm Throop Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Town of Bristol, aforesaid to hereby certify that the fore going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Martha Fales for a pension for the monies of John Fales her late husband deceased in the War of the Revolution. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year first aforementioned

Wm Throop Prob Clerk
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I Nelson Miller of Bristol in the county of Bristol & state of Rhode Island &c. aged nearly eight four years on solemn oath depose & say, that I was formerly acquainted with John Fales the deceased husband of Martha Fales of said Bristol & am now well acquainted with the said Martha. I knew them both before their marriage & up to the time of his death. Said John Fales was a private soldier in the company of Bristol Militia in the time of the war of the Revolution, and I have no doubt did duty in rotation like the rest of that company in guarding the place & the neighboring shores, but as I was in the regular service a considerable part of the war I cannot state particularly his services in the militia. I saw him in Spencer's expedition & was with him in it at Howland's ferry & other places opposite Rhode Island six weeks. He was during this expedition a private soldier in Capt. William Throops' Company of Bristol Militia and I was in Capt. Caleb Can's Company attached to Col. Crary's regiment of State troops. While I was in Crary's regiment in 1777 stationed in Bristol, as I was during the whole of that service except during Spencer's Expedition, the Bristol Militia Company in which said Fales was a private, served in two divisions. The company taking turns & serving half at a time. This was while the British were in the possession of Newport & the whole of the Island of Rhode Island & frequent excursions of the enemy & the exposed situation of Bristol, made it necessary to keep up a constant guard day & night, & as their were not sufficient regular troops stationed here, the militia were called out & served by turns as before stated. There were numerous guard stations kept up from Peck's rocks around the shores by Bristol Ferry to the Narrows & several were kept up in the compact part of the town. I frequently saw said Fales engaged in this duty with the other soldiers.
The said John Fales has been dead for many years. The said Martha is still living his widow.
Nelson Miller
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State of Rhode Island &c Bristol Sc at Bristol this 4th day of August AD 1838
Then personally came Nelson Miller before named and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the afore written deposition, before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with the said deponent and that he is a person of truth and veracity.
Jos. M. Blake
Just of the Peace
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I Joseph Munro of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island aged seventy seven years, on solemn oath depose and say, that John Fales late of said Bristol, deceased, was a soldier in the Bristol Militia Company, and served therein during a part of the Revolutionary war. In the year 1777 I belonged to Haunton's regiment and served in it through Spencer's Expedition and I saw said John Fales engaged in the same service as one of the Bristol Militia Company then commanded by Capt. William Throop. This expedition as near as I can recollect occupied six weeks. The regular forces & Militia were stationed partly on Tiverton Hights which commanded a view of the enemy on Rhode Island and partly at Howlands Ferry and Fogland Ferry by the shore.
I was also in Sullivan's Expedition in 1778 and the said Fales was there also as a soldier and I believe belonged to the same company. That company went upon the Island by Crafts hall at a time but they were all out in the service either at Bristol or on the Island, from the time Bristol was burnt in the latter part of May 1778 to the end of Sullivans Expedition, a period of not less than three months, according to the best of my recollection & belief. I was also on Rhode Island in 1781 and saw said Fales there in the service as a drafted or enlisted soldier in Capt. Vial Allen's company. How long he served in Capt. Allen's company I cannot say. I found him there when I got to the camp and I left him there in the service after my month expired.
Joseph Munro

Bristol sc. At Bristol this 23 of August 1838
Then personally came Joseph Munro and gave & subscribed the afore written deposition and made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that said deponent is personally known to me and is a man of truth & veracity.
Jos. M. Blake, Just. Peace
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I Ann Finney of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island aged sixty five years on oath depose, that I am a sister of Martha Fales who is the widow of John Fales late of said Bristol deceased. I also testify that I was present at the marriage of my said sister to the said John Fales. They were married by my father Josiah Finney Esq, deceased. There is no record preserved of the marriages solemnised by him, nor do I know of any family record of the marriage of my said sister. I do not recollect the exact time of her said marriage, though I perfectly recollect the fact, & the circumstances of the wedding. I was nine or ten years of age, possibly eleven years, though I think not so old.
Ann Finney

Bristol Sc Bristol August 10th AD 1838.
Then personally came Ann Finney above named and gave & subscribed the afore written deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that she is a woman of truth & veracity.
Jos M. Blake, Just. Peace
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I, Thomas Church of Bristol in the county of Bristol, in the state of Rhode Island aged seventy seven years on solemn oath depose and say that John Fales late of Bristol and myself were brought up in the same neighbourhood in said town from our earliest years, and both belonged to the same militia company during the Revolution and served together during the war of Independence. Capt William Throop had command of the company and Joseph Reynold's was lieutenant of it. That company took turns in standing guard during all that part of the Revolution in which the enemy were in possession of Newport say from December 1776 to October 1779 as near as I can recollect. The company were divided into two detachments or portions. Captain Throop had command of one portion and Lieutenant Reynolds of the other and these detachments served in rotation one of them at a time standing guard at Warehouse Point, at Peck's Rocks, at the [illegible] at Bristol Ferry and other expired places about town. There stations were guarded by this militia company by day and by night for the whole time the enemy held Rhode Island. At [illegible], which were frequent, (for the vessels of the enemy were in the Bay, and sometimes anchored in sight of our wharfs, the whole company were out in service, and this I recollect was especially the case when Col. Campbell burnt the town. On this occasion the whole company were mustered and kept out till after Sullivan's Battle on the Island. This was in the summer of 1778 and Capt Throops company were in service for three full months at this time. Said Fales was a subaltern officer in the company, I think a sergeant. He was in Sullivan's expedition on R. Island, and must have served not less than eighteen months in Throops
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company while the enemy were in Newport. After the enemy evacuated Newport there was a draft from the Bristol militia company to go to Newport to help defend that place as the enemy were expected to make a new attack upon that place. I was one that was drafted and so was said Fales, but he had just served out his draft, for forty days, when mine commenced, I found said Fales there, but he continued there in the same service and served as a substitute for another person, I think for his elder brother Timothy. This was in the summer and fall of 1781. I remember said Fales was a very athletic stout young man and seemed to take much pride in making a soldier like appearance. He died more than twenty years since and his wife Martha Fales still lives his widow. Said Fales I recollect was stationed several times, that is several terms of duty, at the Narrows which was near his father's farm, but he held also other stations, as circumstances happened and as the commanding officer of his division of the company gave orders.
Tho Church

Bristol Sc at Bristol this third day of August AD 1838
Then personally came Thomas Church above named and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the afore written deposition. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity.
Jos. M. Blake, Just. of Peace
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I Jonathan Fales of Bristol, state of Rhode Island aged eighty six years, on solemn oath, depose & say, that I was a cousin of John Fales of Bristol now deceased, & intimately acquainted with him from our boy hood until his death which took place near twenty five years ago. I remember he was a member of Capt Throop's Bristol Company of Militia in the revolutionary War, & that he was an active soldier in that company. He took his turn as did all the other members of that company in standing guard at the different guard stations about town and throwing up breast works & fortifications which we did at Pappoos Squash Point where we mounted an eighteen pounder, at Fort Hill on Bristol Neck, at Bristol Ferry at Warehouse Point where several cannon were mounted at the Narrows also a strong guard was stationed for the protection of the boats up Kickamaeet River. Fales performed guard duty on these stations during the period the English kept possession of Newport. The Bristol Militia maintained these guard posts themselves for between two & three years, nearer three years, while the British were in Newport, for the state troops held their main station in the compact part of the town, and some of these posts were several miles from town. The regular troops however, maintained one station at the hill near the Ferry, but no other out of the compact part of the town. Said John Fales took his turn in this militia service for half the time for nearly three years. In the course of which time he was in Spencer's Expedition & in Sullivan's also as I believe though I was out in Sullivan's Expedition myself on the Island, though I was at the ferry in the public service at the time. I have no doubt that said Fales was in actual service in the militia a year & a half, while the British were in Newport.
Jonathan Fales

Bristol Sc. Bristol August 3d AD 1838.
Then personally came Jonathan Fales and subscribed & made oath to the truth of the aforegoing deposition before me. And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent & that he is a man of truth & veracity.
Jos. M. Blake, Just. Peace
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I Abby F. Bosworth wife of Nathaniel Bosworth late resident of Providence but now of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, on solemn oath depose and say, that I am now in the forty fifth year of my age, and am the daughter of John Fales and of his late wife, now widow Martha Fales and that I am the seventh child of said marriage -- that my said mother has resided in my family for the last sum years, that there is no record of her marriage nor of the births of her children that I have ever seen either in the family Bible which has been usually in my family, nor elsewhere Abby F Bosworth
Bristol [illegible] at Bristol this tenth day of August AD 1838. Then personally came Abby P. Bosworth and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I ably certify that I am personally [illegible] with said Deponent and that she is a woman of truth & veracity
Jos M Blake
Just. Peace
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Children of John Fales and Martha his wife  {illegible}
Charlotte Fales born Jan. 5th     1784.
Fidelia       "          "       Dec. 27th  1785.
Timothy    "          "       July 23r     1788.
James  G  "          "       Oct.10th    1789
James  G  "          "       Jan. 20th   1791
 Betsy    R  "         "      March 29th 1792
Abby     F   "         "      March 23r   1794
Nancy L     "          "     March 23r   1796
Joseph I      "       "      April 10th    1798
Henry D W   "     "      FebY 8th       1800
Martha G    "      "      March 10th   1802

State of Rhode Island
Bristol County        Sc-
Town Clerk's Office in Bristol in the County of Bristol and State aforesaid
April 2, 1839
I Wm Throop Town Clerk of said Town of Bristol do testify under solemn oath that the foregoing is a true copy from the Records in said Office, of the Births of the children of "John Fales and Martha his wife-"
Wm Throop T. Clerk

State of Rhode Isl Bristol c. At Bristol this 3rd day of March AD 1839 
Then personally came William Throop above named and made oath to the truth of the afore written statement by him sworn scribed and I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deposed and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
Before me Jos. M. Blake
J. Peace
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I, William Throop of Briston in the State of Rhode Island, on solemn oath depose, that I am town Clerk and also Clerk of Probate for said town and as such has a custody of the records of Births and marriages celebrated in said town and have also the custody of the records of the division of real estate, of persons dying intestate, among heirs at law. And I further testify that there is no record of the marriage of John Fales with Martha Fales his surviving widow, and that very few of the marriages celebrated in this town between the month of October 1775, and the month of January 1785, during which period there was no clergyman in Bristol authorized to solemnize marriages have been recorded, that during that period marriages having been solemnized before magistrates and while the then town clerk resided out of town which was the case for several years of the Revolution, is probably the reason so few marriages appear to have been recorded. And I further testify that a numerous family of children were born of this said marriage between John Fales and his wife Martha Fales, six of whom survived their said Father, who died intestate, leaving a real estate which was legally divided among said six children and a grandchild. I further testify that dower was duly assigned to the said Martha as the widow of said John Fales out of said real estate Wm Throop

Bristol Sc At Bristol this 14th day of December 1838 Then personally came William Throop and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten deposition, before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity. Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace
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Revy 21.091 WIDOW, &C. own File No. 21091 Martha Fales Widow of John Fales riv. Rev War Act July 7th 1838 Index: Vol. A, Page 228 [arrangement of 1870.]
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additional evidence for Martha Fales
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                        1

I Nelson Miller of Bristol in the
County of Bristol & State of Rhode
Island, aged eighty four years, on
oath depose, that I was in the Regular
State service during Spencer's expedition
in 1777 and saw John Fales there in that
service was a member of Capt. Wm Throops
Company of Bristol Militia, as I have
stated, I believe, in a former deposition,
and being enquired of how long that
Company were occupied in that expedition,
I [illegible] depose, that according to the
best of my recollection, it was six weeks.
I belonged to Col. [Crany's ?] Regiment, which
arrived there among the first, and the
Bristol Militia very soon followed.
Col. [Crany's ?] Regiment was engaged in
that expedition about two months and
were stationed at Howland's Ferry.
The Massachusetts Militia did not
come in for several weeks and the forces
that arrived there waited for additional
Militia.  Some of the remote troops did
not arrive until a very few days
before the expedition was abandoned.
It has been always familiar to my
mind, that the militia, about here
were engaged in that expedition six weeks.
Said Fales served through the whole
of it.
                                 Nelson Miller
Bristol [Jc ?] At Bristol this 22d day of April AD 1839
Then personally came Nelson Miller and
gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition
and made oath to the truth of the same
before me.  And I also certify, that I am
personally acquained with said deponenant
and that he is a man of truth & veracity.
                                Jos. M. Blake J. Peace
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2
I Ichabod Cole of Warren in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, aged Eighty nine years on oath depose, that I was Ensign of the Warren Militia during a part of the Revolutionary war and believe I am the only surviving commissioned officer of the Bristol County Militia who took a part in that war. I was on both of Spencer's & Sullivan's expeditions. Spencer's expedition was in 1777 during the latter part of the Summer & in the Fall of that year. The Militia of this County, or a part of them, were called upon to rendezvous at Tiverton Four Corners. We mustered as soon as possible and repaired there. We found state troops and neighboring militia there on our arrival. I mean on the arrival of the Warren Militia. We were there a considerable time for reinforcements from the more distant militia so that the neighboring militia were there a longer time that the more distant militia which did not arrive so early as they were expected. The Bristol Militia were there early, but I cannot tell at this distance of time, exactly how long they served. The Warren militia must have been occupied a month in the expedition, tho' some of the distant militia were there but ten or twelve days no arriving until a few days before the expedition was abandoned. Ichabod Cole 

Bristol Sd. At Warren this 24th day of November AD 1839. Then personally came Ichabod Cole above named and gave & subscribed the aforesritten deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent & that he is a man of truth & veracity. Jos. M. Blake J. Peace
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3
At a Town Meeting held at Bristol on Tuesday the 25th day of April AD 1775. Shejashub Bowon, Esqr Moderator. Voted, That there be a regular watch kept in this town. Voted, That all men from the age of sixteen years to sixty shall be liable to attend upon said watch. At a Town Meeting held at Bristol on Monday the fourth day of September AD 1775. William Bradford Esq. Moderator. Voted, That a number of small arms be purchased by a Committee to be appointed for that purpose for the use of the town. At at Town Meeting duly warned & met at Briston on the 12th day of December AD 1775 Nathaniel Fales Esquire, Moderator, Voted, That some entrenchments be made near the Harbor in this town, to prevent the enemy from landing. Voted, That William Bradford Esq. Simeon Potter Esqr. Major Benjn Bosworth & Capt. Jeremiah Ingraham be a Committee to determine in what places, and in what manner said intrenchments are to be constructed & cause the same to be done. At a Town Meeting held by adjournment on Monday the 12th day of February 1776. Sherjashub Bowon Esqr. Moderator. The Town Council exhibited a list of the names of fifteen persons who they judged unable to
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4 furnish themselves with arms agreeable to law. At a Town Meeting held at Briston on Wednesday the 16th day of April AD 1777. Simeon Potter Chosen Moderator, for said Meeting. Voted, That the School land & the Ministry Land be let to the highest bidder for one year, and that if the person, or persons hiring the same, shall be interrupted in the improvement of said land by the British Troops, that there be a Committee chosen to estimate the damage they may sustain and to make such deduction from the rent as they shall judge reasonable. At a Town Meeting held at Bristol by adjournment on Monday the 8th of September AD 1777. Daniel Bradford Esq. Moderator. Voted, Where as it appears by the late apportionment of a tax upon the several towns in this state, this town is overrated, considerting its present circumstances it is now a garrisoned town, the buildings improved as Barracks for soldiers, the fences all consumed for fuel, and the lands for near two miles a waste, many of the buildings totally ruined and destroyed, the inhabitants moved out, many of them into over Governments, with their estates, and the exposed situation of the town, to be annoyed by the common enemy every hour, the farms can't be improved to any advantage. It is therefore voted, that a Petition be preferred by the freemen to a General Assembly for relief in the premises, and that Messrs Shabjashub Brown, Daniel Bradford, and Benjamin Bosworth be a Committee to draw it up in order to be forwarded.
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5 State of Rhode Island &c. County of Bristol Sc. Town Clerk's Office in Bristol in the County and State aforesaid April 24th A.D. 1839. I. Wm. Throop Town Clerk of said Town of Bristol, under solemn oath depose, that the preceding two pages, purporting to be Town Meeting proceedings in said Bristol in the year 1775, 1776 & 1777 are true copies from the Records in this Office Wm. Throop Town Clerk. 

Bristol Sc. At Bristol this 24th day of April AD 1839 Then personally came William Throop above named and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten statement by him subscribed, Before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity, and that he is the Town Clerk of said town of Brisitol, duly qualified to act as such. Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace

State of Rhode Island &c. County of Bristol Sc. Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas, in the County and state aforesaid. I certify that Joseph M. Blake, whose signature is affixed to the taking of the foregoing Depositions of Wm. Throop, Nelson Miller, and Ichabod Cole, is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned under the seal of said State, and engaged [illegible] according to Law. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this twenty third day of April A.D. 1839. Wm. Throop Clerk.
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I Jonathan Reynolds of Bristol in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island aged seventy six years, on the oath depose, that I was born and have ever lived in said Bristol and was a soldier in Capt. William Throop's Company of Bristol Militia during part of the war  of the revolution.  Owing to the very exposed situation of the place, guards were kept by said Militia at various stations on the shores of the town, while the enemy were in the {illegible} of Newport. One of these guard stations was at the Narrows, so called, in the North East part of the town.  A guard was kept up at this station all the time the enemy held Newport. I took my station there as a private in Capt. Throop's company on the last of January 1779 and I continued to duty there, half the time, until the last of October of the same year.
Page 25

my home. The duty of the soldiers at the Marrows was to guard the shores. A watch was always kept through the night, and we walked
the shore nearly to Bristol Ferry where there
was another station, said Fales was also in Spencer & Sullivans expeditions, I believe,
but I cannot say positively as I was in neither of those expeditions myself
Jonathan Reynolds
Bristol [illegible] At Bristol this 27th day of April AD 1839 Then personally came Jonathan Reynolds and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposittion and made oath to the truth of the same. And I also certify that said deponent is personally known to me and that he is a man of truth & veracity
Before me-
Jos M Blake
Just. [illegible]
State of Rhode Island
County of Bristol
Clerks Office Court
of Common [illegible] County afore
said April 29th A.D. 1839- I certify that Joseph M. Blake whose signature is affixed in his own proper hand writing to the taking of the foregoing Deposition of Jonathan Reynolds is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned under the seal of said State, and engaged therein according to Law. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year aforesaid
Wm Throop Clerk.
Page 26

J. L. Edwards, Esquire,
Commissioner of pensions
     Washington
Page 27

Bristol, April 29th 1839

Sir,
     I herewith transmit two depositions to establish the
fact that Lydia Bunn still remains the widow of
Nathaniel Bunn, as required by yours of 18th Instant.
     In the case of Martha Fales, widow of John Fales,
I also transmit the evidence of our town clerk to
prove there is no record of their marriage, and from
the same source, furnish the next best evidence such
a case admits of the fact of the marriage, and that it
must have taken place, before January 1794, in the
record of the issue of that marriage, and proof that [dower ?]
was assigned the applicant, out of John Fales' estate,
and the division of the estate among their children.
As respects the period of John Fale's service, I would refer to the
depositions of Joseph Munro and Nelson Miller already on
your files, and to those of Mr. Miller & Ichabod Cole now sent,
from which, it is established that the Bristol militia were
occupied in 1777, on Spencer's expedition, upon the best
calculations that can be made, founded on recollection,
six weeks.  No one of that militia, I believe, has ever called
that term of service less.  The Bristol militia were kept in a
manner [embodied ?], before that expedition was [concerted ?],
and were marched to the place of [rendezvous ?], on the first
notice, while the more remote militia had to be drafted, and
many of the Massachusetts forces did not arrive, at Camp,
till just as the enterprise of taking possession of [R. Island ?] was
abandoned.  Such is the united testimony of all the Bristol
militia, who have been examined upon this subject and
many of them are among our most respectable citizens.
John Fales served through that expedition.  It is also in evidence
that he served, as one of the same militia, in Bristol from
the destruction of the town, on May 25th 1778, till the battles
on the Island, under Sullivan, August 28th of same
year, a period of three months.  There is also substantial
Page 28

proof, as it appears to me, that John Fales served two months, near
Newport, in 1781, one month, upon his own draft and one, as a sub-
stitute for his brother probably, as testified by Mr. Church, who thinks
these drafts were for 40 days respectively.
     Concerning Mr. Fale's guard service, upon which much of his
widow's claim is based, I must be permitted to remark, that if
he were now himself alive, and in full possession of the best
memory that ever belonged to an Octogenarian, it would be im-
possible for him, to detail, with exactitude, the precise periods or
length of time, by weeks and days, he was stationed, at this
or that point, where guards were kept up, by the Bristol mi-
litia, for nearly three years of the war.  Much less, can such precision 
be expected of his widow, or even other witnesses.  If any fact, however,
has been established, beyond the possibility of doubt, it is the fact, that the
militia company of Bristol, at first under the command of Capt.
Ingraham, and soon, under the command of Capt. W. Throop, manned
and guarded a number of guard posts, from December 1776 to the
month of October 1779, that for this purpose, the members of that
company served in two divisions, each half the time.  It may
be said, these men, while thus engaged, were merely defending
their own farms, families and [firesides ?], but this was defend-
ing a portion, and one of the most exposed portions of the
common country, as is obvious, from the plunder and
depredations committed upon it, notwithstanding, all
the efforts made for its protection.  There guards drew their rations
and supplies from the stores of the commissary, in the same
manner, as the State Troops, as proved by Mr. Smith who assisted
the commissary, and as further evidence of the necessity of
such a guard and the extreme danger of the town, I herein
transmit, a record of the proceedings of the [freemen ?] in
town meetings assembled, from April 1775, to Sept 1777, to
which I beg to refer your particular attention.
     These remarks and the votes of the town apply not
only to the case of Mrs. Fales, but also to those of Mrs. Waldrow
and Mrs. Liscomb, all widows and the two last utterly destitute of property
Page 29

Are not their claims as just, for services actually rendered, by their respective
husbands, as soldiers of the militia, at guard posts in Bristol as they would
have been, had the like services been rendered, in the field?  They were
occupied as soldiers half the time, by such [alternatives ?], as rendered the
other half of but little value to them.  And tho' it is impossible to prove,
after such a lapse of time, the precise periods, either of them served,
at one or another of the stations, in question, yet as it is distinctly
proved, they did serve, in the aggregate, at those stations, one
half the time, from a given period of one year to a given
period of another, it is with deference, apprehended, justice
and no more than justice, may be done to these aged matrons, without
violating the letter or the spirit of the law enacted for the benefit of
such persons.
     I forward from the secretary's office, a copy of the proceedings of the
assembly.  Pages 1 & 2 will show the efforts made to defend our extended
shores, at the first stages of the war.  On Page 5, under the head of October
Session 1779, it will be seen, that the militia guards were first dismissed,
by order of the assembly, Newport having been evacuated by the enemy.  On
Page 4, it will appear, Vial Allen was appointed a Lieutenant to Moses
Turner's company of State troops, and on Page 5, he appears to have been
appointed Captain of the Barrington militia; by Page 6, it appears that
a Regiment of 610 men were to be raised for six months, of which Bristol was
to raise 13, that she did raise her quota, is evident from her not being
returned, among the [deficient ?]  towns, mentioned on Page 7.  This was in
1780, when we alledge [sic] Waldron L Liscomb enlisted for 6 months
and served, as the witnesses believe, under Vial Allen.  At February
Session 1781, Page 7, an act was passed to embody a part of the mili-
tia, and 1200 men were to be embodied out of the militia & by 4th March
for one month, and Vial Allen was to have the command of one
of the companies; at July session following, it appears, 500 of the
militia were still kept upon R. Island, this corresponds with the deposition of T. [Church ?]
who testifies John Fales served two months, partly on his own draft, and partly
as a substitute.  I have been [prolix ?], I fear tediously so, but my object has been
to facilitate your investigation.  Very Respectfully, your obed. servt.
J. L. Edwards Com. Pensions.        N. Bullock