Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21987, for Jesse Smith, Rhode Island
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SERVICE
R.I.

Smith, Jesse

NUMBER S.21987

CONTENTS
b. June 12, 1760 at North Providence, R.I. there at enl. & in 1833
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Rhode Island

Jesse Smith 27079 of North Provi'e in the State of R.I. who was a private in the comp'y commanded by Captain Olney of the Reg't commanded by Col. Angell in the R.I. line for 9 months 
private

Inscribed on the Roll of R.I. at the rate of 30 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Jany. 1834 and sent to Hono'l N. K. Kight. Senate US.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $75
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar 34 15
$90.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 130
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Jesse Smith 28.367

Private 9 months
admd

See letter to N. K. Knight. Jay 14. 1834

Hon NK Knight
Senate US

[crossed out] B Cowell Esq Providence R.I. [/crossed out]
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Rhode Island District Sc
On this 7th day of October AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court being a special District Court of the United States within for said District now in Session. Jesse Smith a resident in the town of North Providence in said District & County aged 73 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit [sic] of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 viz he entered & served in the Army of the Revolution as follows. In answer to the seven Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he answers and says. –
to the 1st. He was born at said North Providence June 12 AD 1760 
2d He has no record of his birth nor does he know that it is recorded any where 
3. He lived in said North Providence when he was called into service & has always lived there since the War 
4. He [crossed out] was sometimes drafted & sometimes he [/crossed out] volunteered 
5. He served under Colonel John Angell Captains Samuel Olney & Thomas Olney - John Stone
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[illegible] received any written discharge but was always discharged verbally.
7. Smith Angell ^and David Benedict
And this applicant further says that in the spring of the year 1776. Just before he was 16 years of age he served as a private and substitute for his father one month in Capt Thomas Olneys Company and  Col. Angells Regiment of Rhode Island Militia and immediately afterwards he was drafted and served another month in the same Company & Regiment as a private Both these tours were performed at a place called Updike Newtown on the Western shore of Nargansett [Narraganset] Bay in garding said shores against the incursions of the enemy. Brittish vessels were then in said Bay. In 1777. The militia of said Regiment were divided in three divisions according to his best recollection and served a third part of the time He always did his duty and never missed a tour he was drafted every third month in said various Company & Col Angells Regiment as a private & he avers that between Jany 1777. and December of that year he served five months at least. This service was also performed
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in garding the shore of Naragansett Bay down below Providence for twenty miles the Brittish then being in possession of Newport & constantly making incursions into the County the militia were always on the alert- 
And this applicant further says that in the year 1778. the Brittish still keeping possession of Newport. the drafts were continued to be made in said Regiment as in the preceding year and he avers that between Jany 1778 and December of that year he served four months at least as a private in said Company & Regiment in garding & watching the shores in the same manner as in the preceding year
In the year 1779. he served four months in the same manner or in the preceding years 
In the year 1780. he remembers that there were two alarm and he avers, that in the spring of that year he served two tours of fifteen days each on Rhode Island in Capt Samuel Olneys Company & Col John Angells regiment of Rhode Island militia. he has no documentary evidence of his service. Nor does know any one who was with him but Elisha Angell
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He hereby relinquishes 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 Jesse Smith 
October 7th 1833 Sworn to in open Court B Cowell Clk
We David Benedict a Clergyman residing in the town of North Providence & Smith Angell of said North Providence hereby certify and say that we are well acquainted with Jesse Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution that we concur in that opinion 
David Benedict 
Smith Angell 
October 7th 1833 Sworn to in open Court by B Cowell Clk 
David & Smith
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I Elisha Angell of North Providence in the County of Providence & State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am now 76 years of age that I am well acquainted with Jesse Smith who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration & have known ^him since & during the the Revolutionary ^War having lived a near neighbor to him. I remember of serving several tours of a month each during the said war with him, having belonged to the same Regiment. I remember of serving several tours of duty with him in the same company one on Rhode Island in Sullivans Expedition in August 1778 one at Warwick neck before that time in same year & one in garding the powder Magazine in Johnston - The militia were divided in three divisions & took turns in serving, when one third served a month another relieved them I  believe said Jesse always served his turn and in this way, must have served  four months a year during
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the several years the Brittish were in possession of Newport - said Jesse has always sustained a good character for truth and I have no doubt he served as he has stated 
Elisha Angell 
October 8, 1833 Sworn to in open Court by the said Elisha
B Cowell Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant Jesse Smith was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states, And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the said David Benedict who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman residing in said North Providence that both he and the said Smith Angell who also signed said certificate and also the above named Elisha Angell are all credible witness in the premises and their statements entitled to full credit. 
I Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Jesse Smith for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said Court this 18 day of October AD 1833
Benja Cowell Clk
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Jesse Smith the above named applicant I formerly knew, but have not seen him for several years & have no doubt the statement & evidence exhibited by him are as correct as time & memory will permit 
Decr 12, 1833 NK Knight
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Revolutionary
21987
INVALID.

File No. 21,987
Jesse Smith
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 279

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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J L Edwards Esq 
Sir
I herewith enclose you the supplemental affidavit of Jesse Smith & the certificate of the Sec’y of State annexed, showing that the Col. Angell under whom the applicant served was not the Col. Angell you supposed and alluded to in your letter.  I also enclose a little book a collection of facts and anecdotes of the Revolution which may be some of the claims [crossed out] of the claims [/crossed out] of the citizens of R. I to a pension under the act of 1832- 
yours respectfully 
NK Knight 
Jan 13. 34 
P.S. When Wm. Mowry's application shall be acted on will thank you to enclose it to me - NKK
Little Book taken out by Mr Edwards -
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Jesse Smith of North Providence in the County of Providence maketh oath in explanation of his declaration made on the 7th of October last past, in the District Court, for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832, viz said Jesse declares. That he well remembers that the name of the Colonel under whom he served was "John Angell”, he also knew & was acquainted with Israel Angell who commanded a regiment of Continental Troops, and said Jesse further declares, that his declaration made on the day above mentioned contains a true account of his services according to his best recollection. That he can produce further testimony if required by the War Department 
Jesse Smith 
Jany 8th 1834 sworn to before me by the above named Jane Smith 
Benja Cowell Commiss’r Dist Court for the RI Dist
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretarys office Jan 8. AD 1834 
I certify that at the session of the General assembly of said State holden in May one thousand seven hundred seventy eight. John Angell was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regiment of Militia in the County of Providence for one year: and that at May session seventeen hundred seventy nine he was again elected to said office for one year; as appears of record in this office 
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
John Brown Francis 
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. 
BE IT KNOWN, that the name "HENRY BOWEN” to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence , this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and of Independence the fifty eighth 
John Brown Francis 
BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND. 
Henry Bowen Secry