Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21830, John Howland, R.I.
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(3-1776) 

SERVICE: R.P.
Howland, John
NUMBER: S.21830

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CONTENTS
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6744 Rhode Island
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John Howland 
of Providence in the State of R. Island who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Dexter of the Reg. commanded by Co. Babeack in the R. Island [?]une for 14 months
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Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 40 dollars 66 cents per annu[?] to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 
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Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Mar 1833-- and sent to [illegible] Providence RI
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Arrears to the 4th of March '33 $93.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '33 23.33
[calc. total] $116.65

[brackets] Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by [illegible] Cromwelt [?] Clerk 
Book D Vol. 3 Page 116
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John Howland

[underlined] 14,175.

[illegible] 
14 mo/ pri
[underline]
$46.66

Mr. Burgess
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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Rhode-Island District, sc. [handwritten] August Seven 1832

County of [handwritten] Providence

On this seventh day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a [crossed out] District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session--

[handwritten] John Howland a resident of [handwritten] Providence in the County of [handwritten] Providence and State of [handwritten] Rhode Island aged 74 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7l 1832, vix.

That he entered the service of the United Sates under the following names officers, and served as herein stated. 

[handwritten] He was born October 31st 1757 in Newport, R.I. and is recorded in the Family Bible-- he lived in Providence when he entered the [illegible] where has continued to live ever since the Revolutionary War-----

[appears to be missing text]

and the applicant further states that in January 1776 he enlisted as a private for twelve months in Cap. Davis [?] Dexters company + in a regiment of Rhode Island Troops first commanded by Col. Babcock + then by Col. Christopher [crossed out] and did serve [illegible] by and immediately upon his time being out, the regiment being in New Jersey at the time-being very critical, at the earnest request of General Washington, he volunteered for one month more--which he served out [^ with the regiment]--he was in the Battle of Trenton + Princeton-----

and the applicant further stated that in Oct 1777, he was a drafted [^private] solider one month in Capt [illegible] company + Col [illegible] regiment--[^4 militia,] during this was in [illegible] expedition-----

[crossed out] he which [illegible] he served out and was honourably discharged-----

And he further declares that the Regiment into which he enlisted and served thirteen months as above sated was first raised by the State and the Offices Commissioned by the Governors, and was stationed on the Island of Rhode Island until the summer of 1776 when we were released to join Gen Washington at New York, and before we left Rhode Island the Officers as [illegible]--stood received New Commission from Congress and we were the declared to be Continental Troops; all of which will appear by a letter written November 26 1830 to Benjamin Crowell E., Clerk of the United States Court, a copy of which letter as printed, in appended to this declaration, and to which [illegible] may be had
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We the undersigned hereby certify that we have long been well acquainted with John Howland Esq, who has subscribed the foregoing statement , + are of the opinion that full faith + credit are to be given to the said statements as made by him ---
- Providence August 8th - 1832

[initialed "B" circles Samuel's name] 
Samuel W. Bridgham, Mayor of the city of Providence

Stephen Tillinghast
City Treasurer

And the said grant as hereby declare then opinion after the investigation of the matter + after putting the interrogations prescribed by the Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier + served as he states. And the count further certifies that Samuel W. Bridgham who has signed the above certificate is Mayor of the city of Providence + that Stephen Tillinghast who has signed the above certificate is Treasurer of the city of Providence, and that [illegible] who [illegible] testified in behalf of the said applicant as resident as they state and that we that [illegible] named are credible person + that their statement is entitled the credit. 

[added piece of paper] I, BENJAMIN COWEEL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [handwritten] John Howland for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [handwritten] 12th day of October [illegible] 1832

[signature] Benjamin Cowell
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[handwritten] 21830

[handwritten; angled] Revolution

INVALID.

File No. 21,830
John Howland
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32nd
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Abial Brown of Cumberland in the State of Rhode Island in oath do testify + say that in the month of January [illegible] 1776, I enlisted as [illegible] commissioned offices in Capt. David Dexters Company and in a Regiment of Rhode Island Troops first commanded [^by Col Babcock + then] Col Christopher Lippett to serve for one year from this 18th day of said January + [illegible] serve accordingly and I further testify that John Howland of Providence was a private soldier in [illegible] Company + Regiment [illegible] said John enlisted at the same time I did + for the same length of time + did serve out this enlistment---

and I further testify that in the latter end of the year 1776 at the request of General Washington our Regiment volunteered to serve one month more than this time--said Howland + myself  both volunteered to serve said [illegible - illegible] purely to serve our Country which was then [cut off]
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at the [illegible] of the War in a [illegible] + critical situation--and [^in] this volunteer service we [illegible], we were discharged + during this time we were in the latter at Trenton Bridge and at [crossed out] Princeton
[right-align] Abial Brown

In Providence Aug 4th 1838
Personally appeared before me the above named Abial Brown + made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed--and I further [crossed out] certify that said Brown is a  credible witness in the premises
[right align] Benja Cowell
Commission of the Dept. Court R.I. Dist
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under the command of the said Captain, Jabez Bowen being Colonel and Amos Atwell Lieutenant colonel of the Regiment.

I further state and testify that after having been stationed a week or ten days at Tiverton our company was one morning paraded and an officer addressed us, stating that a body of eight hundred men were to be formed of such as would freely volunteer to compose the advance, who would first land on the Island. Feeling at that time all the ardor which actuated older and greater men in the cause of the Revolution, I advanced to the front of the company and offered myself, a number of others followed or accompanied me. These volunteers were soon collected from the different Regiments and marched to Little Compton opposite the Southern part of Rhode Island to wait the orders for embarkation towards the close of the month we were in the night marched to the shore of the bay and took our places in the flat bottomed boats which were to convey us to the Island, but the wind increased to a gale, and the waves and the surf appeared to the commander in chief so threatening that after being seated in the boats with the spray falling over us until nearly morning, we were order to land and march back to our camp, thus ended after a few more days, what has been called Spencers Expedition, in which I served a month and some odd days.

I further state that I now know of no roll of the Regiment or company now in existence, or of any person now living from whom I can procure testimony of my service in the said Expedition, Death has swept the individuals off the stage, tradition only remains.

John Howland

August 9 1832
Sworn to in open Court B Cowell
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At the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island holden September 1777 the following Resolution was passed Ver. Resolved, that one half of the Militia, Alarm, Independent and Artillery companies be drafted from the Militia, Alarm, Independent Artillery Companies witin this State, on the Twenty Seventh day of September instant. That they march to and rendezvous at such place or places as shall be directed by the Honorable Major General Spencer, on the first day of October next, and that they remain and continue to do duty for the space of one month from the said first day of October, unless sooner discharged by General Spencer, any resolve to the contrary hereof not with standing; and the Colonels, or in their absence, the next commanding officer of the several Regiments [^ of Militia] and commanders of said companies, are directed to call together by companies their respective Regiments and companies on Saturday the said Twenty Seventh Day of September, at such place as shall be appointed by them, and may be most convenient for the said Regiments and Companies; and that they cause said draft them to be made; and that the persons who shall be drafted as aforesaid be duly equipped with arms and accouterments according to law
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I Amaziah Weatherhead of Cumberland in the State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that in the month of January 1776 I enlisted as a on commissioned officer in the company of Capt. David Dexter in the Regiment first commanded by Colonel Henry Babcock and afterwards commanded by Col. Christopher Lippitt, which Regiment was raised by the State of Rhode Island to serve for one year from the 18th day of January and I did service accordingly and I further testify that John Howland of Providence was a private soldier in the said company & Regiment during said time, said John Howland enlisted about the same time I did and for the same length of time and did serve out his time of enlistment. And I further testify that on the last day of December 1776 or on the first day of January 1777, at the Request of the Commander in Chief, communicated to us in an address to serve another month after the expiration of our time. Said Howland and myself accordingly served out the additional time, till we with the rest of the Regiment were regularly discharged. We were in the action in defending the pass at Trenton Bridge and in the Battle at Princeton which took place on the next day.
Amaziah Weatherhead
In Providence August 7 1832
Sworn to before me 
Benjamin Cowell
Commssioner Dis Court
RI Dist.