Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21832, Peleg Hull, R.I.
Page 1

SERVICE R.I.
Hull, Peleg
NUMBER S. 21832
CONTENTS
Page 2

15765
Rhode Island
Peleg Hull
of Providence in the State of Rhode Island
who was a Pvt. & Qtr Mstr. in the Company commanded
 by Captain Burrill of the Rgt. commanded 
by Col. Atwell in the  Rhode Island
line for 3 months Private
6     " Qr. master Navy
Inscribed on the Roll of Rho. Island
at the rate of 37 dollars ___ cents per annum,
 to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of July
1833 and sent Benj. 
Cowell Providence Rho. Island
Arrears to 4th of day of March 1833 $74.00  
 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. " $18.50
                                    ________
                                      $92.50
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book E Vol 2 Page 112

A. B. shows
Died Nov. 20-1844
Page 3

No 25744
Peleg Hall [crossed out] Hull [above] Providence County
Rhode Island
Peleg Hull
Qtr. Mast. Navy 6 Months
Private               3
[underline]
9
27
10
___
37

Ben Cowell Providence R. Island
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office, 
183
Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:}). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Peleg Hall Providence County Rhode Island
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's Service. Years. Months. Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Draft Oct 1777 | 1 month | private | Genl Spencer, Col Brown | 75 years Providence Rhode Island | Traditionary evidence - papers correct
Draft Aug 1778 | 1 month | " | Capt. Burrill, Col Atwell | |
Draft - " | 1 month | " | Same company & Regt | |
Entered Oct 1778 | 6 months | quarter master | Sloop of War Providence Cap. Gardner | |
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line." "State troops," "militia," and 'volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832,
State, Territory, or District of
County of }ss.
On this _ day of _ personally appeared (a) before _ A. B. a resident (b) _ in the county of _ and State, Territory or District of _ aged (c) _ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the Unted States in the year (d) _, with _ and served in the _ (e) regiment of the _ line, under the following named officers: _
(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service, (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers,) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service, the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. _ A. B.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
_ of the Court of _ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _ day of _ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (J) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers, or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, vis:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _ years of age; 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
(and then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the 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 it appears to them that A. B. and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _ Clerk of the Court of _ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal _ of office, this _ day of _ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 6

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State of Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[underline]
[a} The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: - For __ year __ months, and __ days, I served as a __. For __ months and __ days, I served as a __; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italicized] about three or four months, [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions [illegible] state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape of narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers, and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
]m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department with the declaration.
Page 7

Peleg Hull
Page 8

United States of America
Rhode Island District
County of Providence
On this 28 day of May AD 1833 personally
appeared in open court being a special District Court
of the United States within & for said District now
in session Peleg Hull of this City of Providence in
said county aged 75 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
viz that he entered the service of the United
States & served under the following named officers
& served as herein stated
He was born in Newport in said state Sept
25th AD 1758.  He has no record of his birth
except in the family Bible he lived in Providence when he was first called into the service
and has lived in said Providence ever 
since the War-
and this applicant further saith that in 
the year 1777 in the month of October
Page 9

he was drafted to serve as a private in
General Spencers expedition against the
British on Rhode Island one month and
he did serve accordingly. he first went to
Conanicut Point & from thence to Howland Ferry
He was in Col Chad Browns regiment of Militia but he cannot
recollect his captains name.
And the applicant further says that
again in August 1778 he was drafted as a
private in Capt James Burrills company of
militia & Col Atwells Regiment for one month
to serve in Sullivans Expedition & he did
serve accordingly & immediately afterwards he
was again drafted & served anonther month
in the same company & Regiment at a place
called Pawtuxet.
And this applicant further says that in
October A D 1778 he entered on board at
New Bedford the sloop of war Providence
as quarter master a vessel in the employ of the
United States & under the command of
Capt Gardner a gentleman by the name
of Wearis [?] was Lieutenant- soon afterwards
Page 10

sailed on a cruise towards the West Indian
Islands.  During our cruise we took New
Providence & captured several vessels that
were there  We returned in April 1779
[blurred word] New Bedford & were discharged having served on board six months,
which being added to the three months he
served as a drafted soldier, makes nine months
he served in the war of the Revolution
for which he claims a pension.
And this applicant further declares that
there is now no person living that he
can call upon to testify to his services  There
were three men in Newport who were
on board said vessel but they are now
dead he now knows of no one-but
the Revd Mr Wilson & Joseph Rawson
are his neighbors & they both can testify
as to his reputation of having served and
to his character for truth.
Page 11

and he hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity exept
the present and declares that his name is
not on the pension Roll of the agency of
any State.
Peleg Hull
May 28 sworn to in open court
B Cowell Clk

We James Wilson a clergyman residing in
the City of Providence & Joseph Rawson also
residing in said City hereby certify and say
that we are well acquainted with Peleg
Hull who subscribed & sworn to the above
declaration that we believe him to be
75 years of age tht 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
James Wilson
Joseph Rawson
May 28 1833 sworn in open court
B Cowell Clk
Page 12

And the said courts do hereby declare their
opinion after investigation of the matter and
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 it appears to them that James
Wilson who has signed the preceeding [preceding] certificate is a clergyman residing in the
City of Providence & also that Joseph Rawson
who also signed the same is also a resident
in said city & is a credible person & that their
statement is entitled to credit
I Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the Court in the
matter of the application of Peleg Hull
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto
set my hand & seal of office this 28th day
of May 1833
Benjamin Cowell Clk
Page 13

June 11, 1937.

Miss Lucy I. Lamb
23 Maple Street
Springfield, Massachusetts.

BA-J/ILL
Peleg Hull
S. 21832

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of the pensioner of Providence, Rhode Island, recorded in the Report of the Secretary of War printed in 1835, as Peleg Hall, who, you think, was possibly Peleg full. Reference to the pension records shows that your supposition is correct. The
pensioner, Peleg Hull, was erroneously listed as Peleg Hall. The record of that pensioner follows as found in pension claim, S. 21832,
based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Peleg Hull, as he signed his name, was born September 25, 1758 in Newport, Providence County, Rhode Island; the names of his
parents are not shown.

While a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he enlisted in October 1777 and served one month as private in Colonel Chad Brown, Rhode Island regiment on General Spencer's Expedition; he enlisted in August 1778, and served two months as private in Captain
James Burrill's company, Colonel Atwell's Rhode Island regiment on General Sullivan's Expedition. In October 1778, he went as quartermaster on board the Sloop Providence at New Bedford, sailed on a cruise toward the West Indies, took several vessels and returned
in April 1779, to New Bedford.

Peleg Hall was allowed pension on his application executed May 23, 1833, at which time he resided in Providence, Rhode Island.
where he had resided ever since the Revolutionary War. He died November
20, 1844.

The soldier made no reference to wife or children.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 14

Lucy I. Lamb
23 Maple Street
Springfield
Massachusetts

May 17, 1937

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:-Today I found in the Pension Records of 1835 Peleg Hall [underlined] of Providence, R.I., and knowing that Halls and Hulls were quite confused in Revolutionary records, and that Peleg is an uncommon name, I think possibly  Peleg Hall should have been Peleg Hull, brother of a several times great grandfather of mine John who had a revolutionary pension, and whose papers were signed by Peleg.  Will you please send me a list of all relatives of Peleg who are
mentioned in his papers?  If there is a charge for the papers I will send the amount, but
Page 15

I suppose there is not, as similar papers never sent to me several years ago for John.

Yours truly, 
(Miss) Lucy I. Lamb
23 Maple Street
Springfield,
Mass.
Page 16

1937-June 11-Hist. to Miss Lucy J. Lamb
Ill.

Revolution
File No. 21832
Peleg Hull
27 Master Rev. War
Act: June 7 '39
Index: - Vol. 2 Page 195