Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21601, John Aldrich, Conn Navy.
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service   number
Conn Aldrich, John  S. 21601
Navy   or Aldrick
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10262
Rhode Island
John Aldrick
of Washington in the State of R Island
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Dixon of the Regt. commanded by Col Sage in the Rhode Island [struck out] Conn line for 11 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of March 1833 and Sent Benj Cowell Providen co R Island
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.  $73.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 14 Sept "  18.33
_________
$ 91.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk, Book E  Vol. 2d Page 101
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation County of Washington Ss. -
On this eleventh day of October AD 1832 personally appeared in Open Court Before the Justices or Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court now sitting Did John Aldrich a resident of South Kingston in said county of Washington and state before said Aged Seventy three 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 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers that in the Month of February 1776 I then being about sixteen years old volunteered in Col John Douglas's regiment of Militia there at Plainfield in the State of Connecticut as a private soldier and marched to Cambridge in the vicinity of Boston and there joined the army under the command of General Washington and continued there until some time in the month of April following when the English troops having evacuated Boston and our regiment returned to Plainfield and was discharged. About the first of July 1776 I enlisted in Capt John Dixon's company of State troop belonging to Connecticut at Plainfield William Edmonds was Lieutenant and Abraham Shepherd Ensign which company was attached to Col Comfort Sage's regiment of that troops and belonged to the brigade commanded by General Wardsworth soon after I enlisted was marched to the City of New York and was stationed on Governor's Island we arrived at New York a few hays before the English took possession of Long Island and was obliged to evacuate said Island very much exposed to the
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five of the British Cannon from Brooklyn Heights and the British Shipping, after leaving Governor Island we encamped about a mile from the City at a place called the Bowry and there remained until the 15th of September 1776 when the common enemy evacuated the City of New York and our army retreated to Harlem Heights and on the next day had a Battle with the enemy at said Harlem Heights at which Col Knowlton was killed I being very near to him at the time he was Mortally Wounded, We kept our encampment on the Heights until some time in the Month of October when our Army retreated to the White Plains and I think on the 28th October fought the Battle with the British commonly call the Battle of White Plains General Washington Commanded the Division that I was in at the time of the Battle last aforesaid and Gen'l Lee the other Division or the Left Division Soon after our enemy fell back near Croton River at a place called Courtland Manner and there continued until the 25 December 1776 Guarding the publik stores when our regiment was discharged and I returned home being absent on said expedition more than six months. In the month of March 1777 I was drafted to serve two months at Bristol in the state of Rhode Island In Capt Butt's Company of Connecticut Militia Samuel Rolins of Voluntown was Lieut in said company Major Riply of Wyndham had the command of said troops which time I served out and was discharged having been relieved by troops from Massachusetts. In July 1778 I was drafted and joined Col John Tyler's regiment and marched to Tivertown in Rhode Island and then joined the army under the command of General Sullivan went the Island of Rhode Island the 9th of
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of August was the Battle on Rhode Island on the 28th of the same month and after the retreat of the American army from off the Island of Rhode Island our regiment was stationed at Warwick Neck on the west side of Narragansett Bay about three weeks and then discharged, being absent from home our two months.

In the month of February 1781 I entered on board the American privateer Brigg called the Marquis La Fiette of Sixteen Guns as Surgeon Mate Belonging to New London Commanded by Capt Peter Richards was in said Brig three cruises in all about six months took six preses on a Privateer Bring of 14 guns after a drumming fight of one Hour, In April 1782 Entered as Surgeon of the Private armed sloop called the Randolph belonging to New London mounting 16 guns Capt Nichol Fosdick was out four weeks took no prizes Went in said sloop one other cruise took two prizes was out but a few days. Went the third cruise in said vessel after being out about three weeks was taken by the British Frigate vessel of 30 guns and carried to New York were put on board the Tory Prison Ship remained on board three weeks was then taken out and put on board the Barflour of 98 guns commanded by Sir Samuel Hood then lying at Staten Island
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and in a few days sailed with the British Fleet on a cruise of Cape Jamaica in the West Indies after being on board of said Barflour about three weeks was with many other American prisoners, put on board the Teabery 74 guns and carried to Port Royal Jamaica from there to Kingston and put in prison where I remained prisoner till April 1783 then came to New York in the British transport ship Royal Britton and arrived in New York in the month of June, being absent about ten months --

and the said John Aldrich avers that he faithfully performed all the aforesaid period of service in defense of his country He further declares that he was Born in the Town of Voluntown in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut on the first day of April 1760 has no record of his birth, that at the time he was first called into the service of his country & during his military services he resided in the Town of Plainfield in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut Since the Revolutionary war he has lived in the State of Rhode Island except one or two years when he lived in the State of New York he has lived in the Town of South Kingstown for the last thirty years where he now lives he does not remember he ever had any written discharge from any of said services but was Verbally discharged there from by his Commanding officers, and that he has no Documentary Evidence of any said services He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pention or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pention Roll of the Agency of any State --  John Aldrich
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court Attest Matthew Waite Clk
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14166
Jno Aldrich
Rhode Island
Private -
11 Months & 1 day
Benja Cowell
RI
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Brief in the case of Dr Jno Alrich County of Washington in the State of - Rhode Island (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge?  Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?  73 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period./Duration of service. Years,Months,Days/Rank as a/Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Vol. Feb'y In 1776/about 2 months/private/ Gen. Washington Col Douglass
Enlist July --/ --6 or more/ --/Capt Dixon Col Sage
draft Mar 1777/ --2--/--/Capt Butts Mj. Ripley
--- July 1778/ -- 2--/--/Col Tyler --
--- Feb'y 1781/ {Marquis La fitch [illegible]. Sergeant}/ Capt Richard/ 6 mo -- mate--Randolph Surgeon/Capt Fosdick
Apr 1782/ about 2 & was a prisoner 10 mo
5. In what battles was he engaged? Harlem Heights, White Plains (RI) some sea fights
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plainfield Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses
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.
J W Clagett  Examining Clerk.
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Knowlesvill Aug'st' 6th 1836
Mr. J. L. Edwards, -
Sir -
Having changed my place of residence - together with my family - from the Village of Kingston Rhode Island - to the Village of Knowlesvill - New - York - on account of being near my children - they living in the vicinity of Knowlesfill - of course in order to obtain my pention in this state, it is necessary as I understand to write you on the subject, that you may enable me to draw - Albany - that being the nearest pention - office to this place - I transfer to you my certificate which I send enclosed - requesting you to send me one that will answer my case - which I have here Represented - from your most Obedient and Humble Servent - John Aldrich
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Kingston R. I. July 2 1837
Sir
John Aldrich of this place, physician who has a small pension, about May 1836 went to Knowlesville N. Y. with an intention of settling there but changed his mind and came back again in the following autumn.
Before he concluded to return he had applied to the Pension Office to have the payment of his pension changed from the R. I. to the N. Y. agency and the agency at Providence was in consequence directed to stop payment of it to him.
He is now here and will probably always live here and is very anxious to get his pension. If Mr Edwards will inform him what evidence he wishes of his return &c it will be forwarded immediately. 
Very Respectfully
E. R. Notter

Hon. James L. Edwards