Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25829, James Mitchell Varnum, R.I.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
R. I.

*
Varnum, James Mitchell
               Martha

NUMBER
W. 25829
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Rhode Island    10
Martha Varnum
of Bristol in the State of R. Island
who was a RI
Widow of James M. Varnum decd. late a Brigr. General of the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 600 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Aug 1836 and Sent Joseph M. Black Esq Bristol R. I.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1836   $3,000.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. "   300.00
                                                         $3,300.00

Act 4 July 1836

{Revolutionary Claim,}

Recorded by D. D. Addison, Clerk.
Book     Vol. 1 -- Page 121
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Revy
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 25,829
Martha Varnum
Wid of 
James M. Varnum
Brigr Rev War

Act:  July 4th 1836

Index:--Vol. V, Page 297

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836.
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Bristol Sc. on this first day of August AD 1836 personally appeared before the judges of the Court of Probate now in session at Bristol in said County Martha Varnum a resident of Bristol in the County of Bristol and state aforesaid, aged eighty six years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 --
That she is the widow of James Mitchell Varnum who was a brigadier general in the army of the United States serving a part of the revolutionary war - that in the month of June 1775 he was appointed Colonel of one of the three regiments raised by this state for the revolutionary service and took his station with his regiment at the Rhode Island Camp near Boston and there remained in that service until the army under General Washington moved to the West (see Johnson's Life of Greene 10t edition 1st Vol. pages 23. 30. 32 & 38) - that he marched with the American forces from Boston to New York and continued in the services till February 1777 as a Colonel at which time he was appointed a Brigadier General in the army of the United States. (see Allen's Biographical Dictionary, Article Varnum) - that in June and July 1777 he was with his brigade in the army at Peaks Kill & Middlebrook (see old edi. of Marshall's life of Washington 3 vol. pages 113. 119) In October 1777 he was engaged in defending forts Mifflin and Mud Island. (see Marshall's Life of Washington pages 206. & 207.)  In November 1777 he was commander at for Mercer when it was evacuated. (3 Marshall 213. 216-) and in the same months he commanded at Red Bank (Allen's Biog. Dict. Article, Varnum) - that he quartered with the army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777:8 - (see 3 Marshall's Life of W. p. 367) and was in Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island in August of 1778 (Allen Biog. Dict. article Varnum) and in the winter of 1778:9 he quartered
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at Warren in this County and continued his services in the army as a Brigadier General until he was e-listed and took his seat in Congress which I think was in the year 1780-
She further declares that she was married to the said James M. Varnum on the eighth day of February in the year 1770 and that he died in Ohio in the month of January 1790.  She also declares that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by a reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Martha Varnum
Sworn to & subscribed on 
the day & year above written
before said Court of Probate
Attest, Wm. Throop Clk.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the aforenamed James M. Varnum, was a Revolutionary soldier and that he served as is stated in the aforegoing declaration of Martha Varnum his widow, for a pension.  Attest Wm. Throop Prob. Clk.
I William Throop Clerk of the Court of Probate for said Town of Bristol do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Martha Varnum for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court this first day of August AD 1836 -
Attest Wm. Throop Probt. Clerk.

[seal affixed to page]
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Bristol Ss Clerks Office Supreme Judicial Court August 2d A. D. 1836
I Greenwood Reynolds Clerk of said Court for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that William Throop is the present Clerk of the Court of Probate for Bristol and has been such for several years last past; and that said Court is one of record, And I further certify that Joseph M. Blake before whom the Depositions of Benjamin Cole & Ichabod Cole purport to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County and has been such for several years last past and that the signature of his name under said Depositions is his own proper hand writing, And I further certify that Samuel Randall whose name appears to the certificate of the Marriage of James M. Varnum and Martha Child hereto annexed is Town Clerk for the Town of Warren in said County and was such at the date of said certificate and that the signature of said Randall at the bottom of said certificate is in his own proper hand writing,
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, the day and year above written
Greenwood Reynolds Clerk

[seal affixed]
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I Ichabod Cole of Warren in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island Esq. aged eighty seven years on solemn oath depose and say,
That I was an ensign in the army of the revolution and was acquainted with the late General James Mitchell Varnum who was a student in and graduated at the Rhode Island College, now Browns University while the same was located in this town.  I became acquainted with him while he was so a student.  Martha Child that was afterwards his wife was a native of this town & I have been acquainted with her from her infancy.  She is still alive and remains his widow.  He was a Colonel at the commencement of the Revolutionary War and was engaged in the first campaign in the year 1775 at Boston.  He had the command of a regiment from Rhode Island and I recollect of seeing him at Notbury on the morning after the Battle of Bunker Hill.  When our troops left Boston he went on with them to New York, and continued with the main army.  He soon became a Brigadier General and so continued, and in the service, until he was elected to Congress a year or two before the peace.
Ichabod Cole


State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Bristol Sc At Warren this 30th day of July 1836
Then personally came Ichabod Cole above named and gave the aforegoing deposition which was by me reduced to writing in his presence, when he subscribed and solemnly swore to the truth of the same before me.  And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Cole and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Jos. M. Blake
Justice of the Peace
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I Benjamin Cole of Warren in the  County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, aged seventy sic years say and according to law do testify and say -
That I was acquainted with James Mitchell Varnum deceased before & during the revolutionary war.  He was a graduate in the first class of the Rhode Island College now Brown's University which was first established here.  He married his present widow, whose [illegible] maiden name was Martha Child, in this town before the war.  After his marriage and before the revolution he [illegible] in East Greenwich R. I. as an Attorney at Law  While there in 1775 he was appointed a Colonel of one of the regiments raised by this state and proceeded to the encampment at or near Boston where he continued there until the army went West and continued in the service out of this state until 1778 when he commanded a Brigade in Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island- I was a soldier in that expedition.  The winter following that expedition his head quarters as a Brigadier General was here in Warren where I used to see him every day.  He continued here until he went west with the army, but when he went and in what particular services he was engaged in I do not know except from reputation and history.
Benj. -Cole


State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Bristol Sc. Bristol July 30th AD 1836.  Then personally came the above named Benjamin Cole and gave the aforegoing  Deposition - subscribed and made oath to the truth of the same before me.  And I do further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Benjamin Cole and that he sustains a good reputation for truth and veracity.
Jos. M. Blake
Just. of the Peace
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this page is an exact duplicate of page 7.
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Warren, February 8th, 1770  These may certify whom it may concern, that on the day of the dates hereof, James Mitchel Varnum and Martha Child were married according to the direction of the law of this Colony respecting marriages by
James Manning
Pastor of the Baptist Church in said Town.

Warren August 2d 1836 I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the Record in this Office.
Samuel Randall Town Clerk