Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12572, John Colwell, R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
R.I. Colwell, John S.12572
carded

CONTENTS
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10.452
Rhode Island
John Colwell of Providence in the State of R. Island who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain May of the Regt commanded by Col. Brown in the Rode Is line for 2 years

Inscribed on the roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 80 dollars - cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of April 1833 and Seat N.Y Atwell Glocester Rcd.

Arrear to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00
Semi-anl, allowance ending 3 Sept. $40.00

$200.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act. June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D.D. Addison clerk, 
Book E Vo. 2 page 104
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State of Rhode Islands & Providence Plantations
County of Providence [illegible]
On this twentieth day of July 1832 in Glocester in said County, before me Ira P Evans a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & foresaid County (which court in a Court of Record) personally appeared John Colwell of Smithfield in Said County aged 86 years Who being first duly Sworn according to Laws doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832. I the said John Colwell was born in Glocester in the Said County on the 23 day of June 1746 - I have no record of my age. I lived in Providence RI when first called into the Service have lived in Glocester and Smithfield Since I live in Smithfield aforesaid now. I was first called out on an alarm sometime in the fall of 1776 under Capt. James Snow in the R. I. Militia I went down to Warwick RI I was stationed there one month. After this I moved into Glocester RI. & after the British tooks South[?? ]possession of Newport RI, in December 1776. I was drafter in Capt. Elija Armstrong Chartered Company of R.I. militia I went down to guard the shores of the Bay. I served a month[underlined] at this time. I went  again in the same Company in 1777. I think, I Served one month. In the latter part of July 1778 I was drafted in Capt. Samuel Shays Company Col
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Col[from prev page] Chad Brown Regiment R.I State troops & went in Gen Sullivans expedition to Rhode Island. we were stationed at the town lines at Whortleberry  
plain, & were occupied in entrenching until we left the day before the battle was fought in August 1778. I came away then, my time being out & the Seconds draft of militia came down to take our places.  Gen Sullivan & Col John Angels were officer in our army at that time that I remember. Soon after I returned home I was again drafted in Capt Mays Company, & was stationed at Providence & Warwick R.I. I served I think one month. From this time & during the years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783 I served in said Capt Mays Company as a
drafted Soldier, at least four months in a year.
The different times I cannot recollect, I am
old & my health both of body & mind is very
poor.  We were stationed during this period at
Providence RI. & along the Shores of the bay to guard the same against the attacks of the British who had possession of Newport until October 1779 & they sometimes appeared off the Coast afterwards, My Service in the militia of Rhode Island from 1776 to 1783 would amount in the whole to over two years. I never received any regular discharge as it was not
usual in the Militia to give one  I have annexed
hereunto the copositions of such surving witnesses as I could procure - Benjamin Waterman, Joseph Money
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David Colwell a person to whom I am known in my present neighborhood I who can testify as to my character for veracity & which belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution. I send part of my time in Capt Kearn Company Colonel Amor Atwell regiment a part of victims. I was under Capt. Peter Lewis & event stationed on Brenton point at the four chimney houses in the beginning of the winter of 1779. The French war in Newport at the time. 

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. 
John Colwell

Sworn to & subscribed at said Glocester the day & year aforesaid before me
Ira P. Evans Justice C.C. Pleas

I Joseph Mowry & after having residing in Smithfield in aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Colwell of said Smithfield who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 86 years of age; that he is reported & believed in the neighborhood where I reside to have been a soldier of the revolution & a credible person & what we concur in that opinion. 
Joseph Mowry

Sworn to & subscribed at said Glocester the day & year aforesaid before me. 
Ira P. Evans Justice C.C. Please
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And I the said Ira P Evans Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas as aforesaid & residing in said Glouster do declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war
department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears & is well known to me that Joseph Mowry & Otis Mowry residing in Smithfield in said County are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit I do further certify that their is no clergyman residing in the vicinity
of the said applicant & that the said applicant is
unable from great bodily infirmity to attend the
sitting of the Court. The County by law sitting in the City of Providence in this County 12 miles from the residence of the said applicant
I further certify that the foregoing contain my
original proceedings in the matter of the application of John Colwell for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Glouster aforesaid this twentieth day of July 1832
Ira P. Evans Justice C.C. Pleas
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State of Rhode Island.
County of Providence
Personally appeared before me Jesse Ballon
Justice of the Peace in & for said County John Colwell of Smithfield in said County who being duly sworn deposeth & says 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 period mentioned below & in the following grades In 1777 for one month I served as a soldier. In 1777 for one month
I served as a soldier in 1778 for two months I served as soldier in 1779 for four months I served as a soldier in 1780 for 4 months I served as a soldier and 1781 for four months
fired as a soldier in 1782 for four months I served as a soldier in 1783 for four months I served as a soldier & for such service I claim a pension, Capt Lewis, Capt
Kern Capt [illegible] Major Thompson Col Amonete
Capt Elijah Armstrong of the R I militia were at
different times my officers
John Colwell
Sworn to & subscribed this 6th day of December 1830
Jesse D. Ballantine Justice Of Peace
Attest
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State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations
Providence I William R Watson Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas within & for the County of Providence in this State, hereby certify that Jesse P. Ballow
is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Glocester in the County & State aforesaid that the within signature purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of said Ballow that the said Ballow is duly authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and that full faith & credit are due to the official attestations of said Ballon
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at Providence this
11th day of December 1832
Wm R Watson
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1268
Jno Colwell
R G
[ illegible]
W. C. E.
afect a-N-s
14 & 16 interrogations
S. Y. Atwell
Glocester
R J.
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1265
BRIEF in the case of Jno Colwell of Smithfield [crossed out: of] Providence in the State of Rhode Island (Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A judge 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? Yes 
3. How old is he? 86
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[column headings] Period. | Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days. | Rank. As a | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen
in fall of ’76 | -- | 1 | -- | private | Capt. Jas Snow
Decemb 76 | -- | 1 | -- | “ | Capt E. Armstrongs Chartered Compy 
In –77—(thinks) | -- | 1 | -- | “ | do – [ditto]
Better part July ’78 + | -- | 1 | -- | “ | Capt Saml May – Col Chad Brown
After return home | -- | thinks 1 | -- | “ | Capt Oney
From this time & during ’79. 80’. 81 82’ & 83 – at least 4 months and a year | -- | 20 # | -- | “ | do
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Providence
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness - tradition 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the ribbon does not pass under the seal. 
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Wm. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
+ Until the day before the battle was fought in August 
# Cant recollect the periods distinctly
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In reply to your request of [null] received [null] for a statement of the military history of John Colwell a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. File 12,572
[column headings] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE.

Fall 1776 | 1 mo. | [null] | James Snow | [checkmark] | R.I.
Dec. 1776 | 1 mo. | [null] | Elijah Armstrong | [checkmark] | [null]
1777 | 1 mo. | [null] | Elijah Armstrong | [checkmark] | [null]
1778 | 2 “ | [null] | Samuel May | Chad Brown | [null]
[The next 5 lines are bracketed together under Captain. And Colonel.]
1779 | 4 “ | [null] | under Captains May, Peter Lewis, Keane, Snow & Armstrong | }Amos Atwell | [null]
1780 | 4 “ | [null] |
1781 | 4 “ | [null] |
1782 | 4 “ | [null] |
1783 | 4 “ | [null] |
Battles engaged in, [checkmark] x went in Gen. Sullivan’s Expedition to R.I. but left them the day before the Battle [illegible]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Providence, R.I.
Date of application for pension, July 20, 1832.  Alld.
Residence at date of application, Smithfield, Providence Co. R.I.
Age at date of application, b. June 23, 1746 at Gloucester, R.I.
Remarks: His claim was allowed
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To the Hon Lewis Cap Secretary of War of the United States Humbly represents John Colwell of Smithfield in the County of Providence State of Rhode Island that he was a soldier in the revolution as will more fully appear by the annexed declaration. He therefore request that a pension may be granted him in conformity with the provisions of an Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 & as in duty bound will ever pray
John Colwell
by his Atty
Sam Atwell
Please address at Glouster R I.
By Atwell
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Seal of the Court
Attest.  Wm R Watson Clerk


State of Rhode=Island and Providence Plantations.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
I WILLIAM R. WATSON, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the county of Providence in the State of Rhode-Island, do hereby certify, that Ira P Evans is a Judge of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record; that the signatures to the annexed documents purporting to be his, are in the proper hand writing of the said Evans
and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of the said Evans-
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Providence this eighth day of November in the year of our
Lord 1832.
Wm R Watson
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I David Colwell of Smithfield in the County
of Providence State of Rhode Island & of lawful age do testify & say that I well know John Colwell of Smithfield. I knew him as a solder in the time of the revolution he served in the militia of the State of Rhode Island principally in [Capt James Mays] Company, at different time as the militia was called out by [draft]  from the time the British took possession of R. Island until the peace of 1783 the said John Colwell Served at least four months in each year as near as I can recollect We were in the same regiment Col Chas Brown & the said John was stationed on the western shore of the bay & I was stationed on the eastern shore
David Colwell
16 July State of Rhode Island 
Providence 
In Glouster this 16th day of July 1832 personally appeared David Colwell (who is
known to me) & who being first duly sworn testifies & says that the above deposition by him signed is just & true in all its part 
before me
Ira P. Evans Justice C.C. Pleas
(over)
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[Further] November 8th 1832 I further certify that the before named David Colwell is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit
attest
Ira P. Evans J.C.C. Pleas
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No 1265.
Application of John [unknown];
for a pension
July 21 1832
Pension Office
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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
August 20, 1931

Mrs. William Shelmerdine
Foster Center, R. F. D.
Rhode Island.

[UNKNOWN]/Rev. & 1812 Wars
AWF
Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers
in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 12572, that John Colwell was born June 23, 1746 in Gloucester, Providence County, Rhode Island.

While a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he
enlisted in the fall of 1776 and served one month as a private in Captain Snow's Rhode Island company, after which he moved to Gloucester, Rhode Island, where he enlisted and served in the Rhode Island militia, as follows - 
in December 1776, one month in Captain Elijah Armstrong's company; in 1777, one month in Captain Elijah Armstrong's company; from the latter part of July 1778, two months in Captain Samuel May's Company, Colonel Chad Brown's regiment, and was in General Sullivan's Rhode
Island expedition; from 1779 through 1783, four months in each year under Captains Samuel May, Peter Lewis, Keane, and Colonels Chad Brown and Amos Atwell.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 20, 1832, while a resident of Smithfield, Providence County, Rhode Island.
He died May 12, 1833. [A.D. (handwritten)]
There is no reference to wife or children.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
One David Colwell test. in case no rel -
Page 18

Rev. & 1812
Wars Section
ILL
October 27, 1930.

Mrs. B. M. Latham
P. O. Box #27
North Scituate, Rhode Island.

Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 12572, that John Colwell was born June 23, 1746 in Gloucester, Providence County, Rhode Island.

While a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he enlisted in the fall of 1776 and served one month as a private in Captain James Saber's Rhode Island Company, after which he moved to Gloucester, Rhode Island, where he enlisted and served in the Rhode Island militia as follows: in December, 1776, one month in Captain Elijah Armstrong's Company; in 1777, one month in Captain Elijah Armstrong's Company: from the latter part of July, 1776, two months in Captain Samuel May's Company, Colonel Chad Brown's Regiment and was in General Sullivan's
Expedition: from 1779 through 1783, four months in each year under Captains Samuel May, Peter Lewis, Keane, and Colonels Chad
Brown and Amos Atwell.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 20, 1832, while a resident of Smithfield, Providence County, Rhode
Island. He  died May 12, 1833 A.D.
There is no reference to wife or children.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
One David Colwell testified that he knew sol. in the Rev. no rela. shown.
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OFFICE OF 
WILLIAM A. SAWN
42 Parkwood St.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. [printed letterhead]

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Sir,
My great, great, great grandfather John Colwell of Cranston (?) R.I. was a pensioner of the Rev. War Will you please send me a copy of his pension record. His wife was Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Joseph of Scituate.
Yours truly,
M. Belle Smith Sawn
(Mrs. N.A. Sawn 42 Parkwood St. Springfield, Miss)
Page 20

North Scituate, R.I.
Oct. 10, 1930
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Rev.and 1812 Wars Section

Madam:
Does the Revolutionary Ware Record of your Bureau show any information in regard to a John Colwell, born in Gloucester, R.I. June 23, 1746, served in various Companies from 1776-1783 and died May 12, 1833. Any information you might have would be very greatfully received. Think he was a pensioner. 
Thank you-
Please address
Mrs. B. M. Latham
North Scituate, R.I.
P.O.Box 27
Oct 11 1930 [stamp in black ink]
Page 21

Hold

Name           Req. No.
[All names and Req No have been crosssed out except the last name Ireland]
May              25-148
Smith            39569
[Leafold]       715-35
Adamson      Vol #2
                      Passing
                      last
Daley             175487
Ireland           12573


RETURN [printed upside down]
Page 22

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form K-32
5-5-42

Director of Reference Service

HOLD
Name | Req. No.
[all names and reference numbers are crossed out]
Boyd | 7A-53-427
[illegible] 7A-54-186
McDonough | 7A- 53-440
Myers | 502
Jewett | JK-1252
McKown | 7A-576
Herndon | Sr 412
Schmidt | 7A-650
Jones | 4574
[illegible] R 2872
Trimble | SC 25089
Cohen | WW-174
Spencer | W25213

[bottom of page, upside down]
RETURN
Page 23

1911 Feby. 17. Hist. to Mrs. W.A. Sawn
1930 - Oct. 27. Hist. to Mrs B. M. Latham I L L.
1931- Aug 6 Hist to Mrs. Wm. Chelmerdine (Ree ltr in case of James Coles (1. 21135) advising only 2 of 4 requests furnished MLB
INVALID.
File No.
12,572
John Colwell
Rev war
-
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index:--Vol. A, Page 18
[Arrangement of 1870.]