Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,062, Hezekiah Wilbur, R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
RI
Wilbur, Hezekiah
or Wilburn
NUMBER
S.22.062
CONTENTS
[no entries]
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Rhode Island 10.036
Hezekiah Wilburn
of Little Compton in the State of R Island who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Simmons of the Regt commanded by Col. Richmond in the Militia line for 1 Year 4 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of R Island at the rate of 53 Dollars 32 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of March 1833 and sent to
Hon. A. Robbins Newport RI
Arrears to the 4th of March '33    106.64
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 33   21.66
[Total] $128.30
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Francis F. Francion Clerk
Book E Vol. 2^d Page 135.
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Hezekiah Wilburn
Admitted
private 1 year 4 mo
$53.32 per annum
Hon A Robbins
Senator
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Brief in the case of Hezekiah Wilburn
of Little Compton
in the State of Rhode Island
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [no entry]
3. How old is he? 76 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table]
Period. In 1776
Duration of Service. 1 Years  4 Months  - Days.
4. Rank. As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. Capt Simmons
[End of Table]
5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Little Compton
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Witness & traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Francis F. Francion
Examining Clerk.
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Hezekiah Wilbur
21234
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Declaration
State of Rhode Island. &c.
County of Newport, Town of Little Compton ss.
On this third day of October, A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate of Little Compton in the County and State aforesaid, at an adjourned session thereof Hezekiah Wilbur, a resident of said Little Compton, aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he first entered the service, December 1776, at the time the British took possession of Rhode Island, having been accepted as a substitute for his father, who was a draughted [drafted] private in the company of Little Compton militia, commanded by Captain George Simmons, and did duty therein for a period of one year & eight months. That immediately on the expiration of said term, being of the age required by law for the service, he was himself draughted as a private in the same company of Little Compton militia, and continued to do duty therein for a further period of twelve months viz until the British evacuated Rhode Island, in August or September 1779. That the object in calling out the militia was to protect the shores of Little Compton from the incursions of the enemy - by maintaining a regular and efficient guard in the manner following to wit: one half of the Company being called upon duty for one month - which was then relieved by the other half the succeeding month, and so on alternately, so long as the necessity for a guard continued.: - the whole company in the mean while being liable to duty, and ready for service at a moments warning. Declarant understands and believes, that the draught of this militia was in conformity to and by authority of an Act of Assembly of December 1776, draughting into three divisions, all male persons liable by law to bear arms in this State, and placing them under the orders of the Government or commander for the time being, to be marched as soon as possible to such places and stations as said authority should direct.
Declarant recollects that in the service aforesaid, he was stationed
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as guard at the Bowen House - at the Creek house so called, and the residence of Sanford Almy Esq^r and finally at the Guard house when Col Wm. Richmond the commander of the regiment resided all within the limits of the Town of Little Compton.
That in the year 1781, at the time the French were in garrison at Rhode Island, he was draughted [drafted], and served, as a private in the militia company of Little Compton, commanded by Captain Benjamin Coe, in the regiment of which Nathaniel Church was Colonel. This company was marched to the Island and was stationed at Jahleel Brentons house in Brentons neck, with a view as it was understood of relieving the French. Sixty men were draughted from Little Compton for this purpose. After serving a month in said company, declarant returned to Little Compton, having received a discharge.
Declarant further states on oath as aforesaid, that he not only served every alternate month after he became of age for draught -, while the British were in possession of Rhode Island - but in the intervening months also as a substitute for his father, William Wilbur.
Declarant further states upon oath as aforesaid that he was born in Casco Bay in the Province of Maine, August 22, 1762.
That he has lived in Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island since the revolutionary war, and that he now lives there - and that he was living in said town at the time of his entering the service as aforesaid viz. December, 1776: that he is unable to fix with more precision than he has herein done the day, month and year when he entered the service or when he left the same; that he never received any written discharge from either of the companies in which he served as aforesaid; nor was it usual in the Revolutionary war to grant such discharges; that he has no documentary evidence of the services he has sworn to, nor did he ever possess any; that as to the manner of his being called into service, and the names of the officers under whom he served, they are both [illegible] stated in the preceding part of this Declaration.
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Declarant further states that he refers to Otis Wilbur and Edward Gray as persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify to his character for veracity and to their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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.
[signature] Hezekiah Wilbur
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court, the day and year above written }
Witness A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
We, Otis Wilbur, - residing in Little Compton, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island; and Edward Gray - residing in the same Little Compton; hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Hezekiah Wilbur who has subscribed to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion; and that we believe him to be a person of veracity.
[signatures] Otis Wilbur
Edward Gray
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written in open Court }
Witness A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk
And the 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 was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies, that Otis Wilbur who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Little Compton; and that Edward Gray who
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has also signed the same, is also a resident of the same Little Compton; that both are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
The testimony of the nearest clergyman having been requested, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of the applicant the Court think proper to state that the Rev. Emerson Paine having been recently settled in this place, and the only one who could be conveniently called on, was not sufficiently acquainted with the applicant to be used as a witness.
I, Alexander R. Brownell, Clerk of the Court of Probate of the Town of Little Compton, in the county of Newport, and State of Rhode Island, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Hezekiah Wilbur for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this third day of October, A.D. 1832.
[signature] A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk
[seal affixed to the right]
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George Brown of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island of lawful age, upon solemn oath deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Hezekiah Wilbur, who has this day sworn to and subscribed his deposition in open Court in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832: that he is knowing the said Wilbur as having done guard duty in Captain George Simmons' company of Little Compton militia at the time the British took possession of Rhode Island - but whether as a substitute for his father or otherwise he is unable to say. After said Wilbur became of age as this deponent can testify said Wilbur did guard duty in the manner pointed out in his declaration, so long as the British remained in possession of Rhode Island. This Deponent was on duty at the same station & therefore can testify from his own knowledge.
[signature] George Brown
State of Rhode Island &c.
Newport sc.
Court of Probate of Little Compton
3rd October, A.D. 1832 - 
Then personally appeared George Brown (who having first heard read the declaration of Hezekiah Wilbur this day and in open Court made) solemnly swore to the truth of the foregoing statement by him, the said Brown subscribed. Sworn in open Court the day and year before written. And the Court certify that the said deponent is a respectable person and fully entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, October 3rd, 1832.
[signature] A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
[seal to the left]
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John Carr of Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, upon solemn oath, deposes and say that he is well acquainted with Hezekiah Wilbur, who has this day in open Court subscribed and sworn to his Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he is knowing to the fact that said Wilbur did guard duty in Little Compton, while the British were in possession of Rhode Island as stated in his declaration and as a substitute for his father. For what length of time he served in this capacity deponent is unable to state. Deponent further distinctly recollects that the said [word crossed through] Wilbur did guard duty after he came of age for draught [draft] in the same company in which this deponent served the greatest part of the time that the British were in possession of Rhode Island. Deponent further recollects that he was on guard with said Wilbur at the Rowen House and the Crock house as stated in his declaration.
[signature] John Carr
State of Rhode Island &c -
Newport sc.
Court of Probate of Little Compton, October 3rd 1832.
Then personally appeared John Carr subscriber to the foregoing statement. (who having first heard read the declaration of Hezekiah Wilbur in open Court this day made solemn oath to the truth of said statement by him subscribed. Sworn in open Court the day and year before written. And the Court certify that said deponent is a respectable person and fully entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court, Oct 3 1832
[signature] A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
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Owen Grennell of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, upon solemn oath deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Hezekiah Wilbur, who has this day subscribed and sworn to his Declaration in open Court, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832: that he is well knowing to said Wilbur having performed one month's duty in Captain Benjamin Coes company of militia in the regiment of which Nathaniel Church was Colonel, in the year 1781, as stated in his declaration. This deponent was at that time a fellow soldier in the same company with said Wilbur and was stationed with him at Jahleel Brenton's house in Brenton's neck, as stated by declarant.
[signature] Owen Grennell
State of Rhode Island &c. -
Newport sc.
Court of Probate, Little Compton
October 3rd, 1832.
Then personally appeared Owen Grennell, subscriber to the foregoing statement (who having first heard read the declaration of Hezekiah Wilbur this day in open Court made) solemnly swore to the truth of said statement. Sworn in open Court, this day and year before written. And the Court certify, that the said deponent is a respectable person, and fully entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this Court, the 3rd October, 1832.
A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
[seal affixed to the left]
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22062
Revolution 
Invalid.
File No. 22062
Hezekiah Wilbur
Pri [Private] Rev War
Act: June 7th [18]32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 422 [possibly 432 or 452]
[Arrangement of 1870.]