Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,871, for James Luther, Rhode Island
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
NUMBER
Luther, James
S.21871
CONTENTS
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(on left side H & d Num. 26-1834AB)
21.745
Rhode Island

James Luther

Gloucester in the State of Rh. Island
was a private in the Comp commanded
Kimball of the Regt. commanded
Col. Frye
in the the Rh. Island
line for 15 months--
Inscribed on the Roll of Rh. Island
at the rate of 50 Dollars
Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Oct.
1833
and Smith L. Atwell
Gloucester
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. '33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M '34
$125
25
$150
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Lole Stiles Clerk, Book C. Vol. 2. Page 119.
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Application
of
James Luther
for pension
26216
and
Private 15 month
Capt Kimball Col
Frye R. J.
[illegible] at Gloucester R.I.
Sam [illegible]
here for applicant
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State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
Dexter Randall,
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the county of Providence in the State of Rhode-Island, do hereby certify, that Samuel
Steere of Gloucester is a Judge of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record; that the signatures to the annexed document purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of the said Samuel
and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of the said Samuel
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Providence this Seventeenth
day of July
in the year of our Lord 1833
Dexter Randall Jr
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State of Rhode Island 
Provance for
On this Seventeenth day of July AD 1833
before me Samuel Steere one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in & aforesaid County of Providence (which
Court is a Court of record) personally appeared James Luther
a resident of Scituate in said County & State aged 86 years
who being first duly sworn according to law, did 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 declarant, was born in Swanney, County of
Bristol, State of Massachusetts February 18th 1747. There is a
record of my age on the town records of said Swanney. I
lived in East Greenwich in the County of Kent, State of
Rhode Island when first called into service, & in the & served the
revolution I have lived in said [illegible] when I now reside.

In June 1775 I enlisted as a private in Capt John Glaziers
Company of minutemen attached to Col John Waterman
regiment R.I. Militia. The minute men [illegible] by order
of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, I we served in this to
serve during the pleasure of said assembly. I served as a
private in said Company until February 1776 [illegible] eight months, when he was discharged. While a minute man I was
stationed at said East Greenwich & was placed as Sentry at
the mouth of the harbor most of the time. We were stationed
their to give the alarm should the British attempt a landing
from which ships which lay in the day. In the spring of 1776 &
soon after I was discharged as a minute man, I removed to
Scituate in the County of Providence & in the spring of 1776 I was stationed at [illegible]
 R.I. one month which here I was under the command of Jesse Angell. In December 1776 I was drafted as a private in Capt.
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Coomer Smith Company same regiment I was stationed
at Bristol, R.I. two months. The British at that time took possession of Newport R. I. In February or March 1777 I was
drafted as a private in said Company I was stationed at Warwick
R.I.  one month. In October 1777 I was drafted as a private in
said company & marched to Providence R.I.  to join [illegible]
under Genl [illegible]. After I arrived in Providence I was
detailed with some others to assist in building [illegible] for the expedition-- I then joined my Company at
Tiverton R.I. when we lay one month when he were discharged
the expedition was for the purpose of attacking the British
on Rhode Island, but failed to effect its objective. My Company
officers were Coomer Smith Captain. Jabez Angell Lieutenant
& Angels Ensign. I do not recollect the names of the
other officer in the expedition, I served as a private one month
at this time. In August 1778 I was drafted as a private in said
Company, & I joined the troops under Genl Sullivan on Rhode
Island, Col Chad Brown Commanded the regiment to which
our company was attached. We took post at the town [illegible] on
the island. Our return after on the 28th of August & on the 29th
the enemy overtook us in the hollow between Butts & Quaker
hill, where we fought a battle; during the battle I was
placed under the command of Capt Henry in a regiment
whose officers I think were Col Lammer & Major Talbot.
After the battle I again joined Browns regiment & we crossed
the ferry to Tiverton where we were stationed until he
we dismissed. I served one month at this time. Gen. Cornich
Gen [illegible] Gen Sullivan lot Greene were officers that I
inspect were in this expedition besides where I have before
mentioned. After this I was drafted as a private in said
Smiths Company & was stationed one month at Bristol RI
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wo months at Warwick R.I. While or Warwick I was
placed under the command of Lieut [illegible] & Capt
Rhodes of Warwick. I cannot recollect the precise state of
the last mentioned service, owing to the loss of memory
consequent upon old age & great bodily debility; but I
a certain as to the service as before states. I served as a
drafted private at other times in the RI militia but cannot
recollect [inelligible] in particular. I never received any written
discharge from the service & have no documentary evidence.
The testimony of such surviving witnesses as I could prove
hereto annexed. Charles Harris, Eldon Elisha Mathewson
Simon Mathewson are persons to whom I am known in my
[illegible] neighborhood & who can testify as to my character
for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the
Revolution. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except in present & do declare
that my name is not on the pension role of the agency of any State
James Luther

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid as said Scituate
before me Samuel Stare Justice C. C. [inelligible]

Benjamin R Allen a Clergyman residing in said
situate and Charles Harris residing in said Scituate
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James
[illegible] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
what was believes him to be 86 years of age. What [illegible]
and believes in whos neighborhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in [illegible]
in
Benjamin R. Allen
Charles Harris
Sworn to & Subscribed this day & year aforesaid at said Scituate
before me
Saml Steere Justice C. C. Pleas
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And I Samuel Steere, one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in the said County of Providence as fair
mentioned do hereby declare my opinion after the
investigation of the matter and after putting the [illegible]
[illegible] by the war department, that the above
before named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier &
served as he state. And I further certify that it appears
to me that Benjamin R Allen who has signed this
preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the
town of Scituate aforesaid & that Charles Harris
who has also signed the same is a resident of said Scituate
and is a credible person and that this statement is written
to credit. I further certify that the said applicant cannot
by reason of great bodily infirmity attend the sitting of the
Court. I further certify that the forgoing contain
my original proceedings in the matter of his application
of James Luther for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand this Seventeenth day
of July AD 1833
Sam Steere Justice C.C. Pleas
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WASHINGTON
October 2, 1931

Mr. Leslie L. Luther
Pulaski
New York.

Dear Sir:

BA-J/AWF

Reference is made to your letter relative to
James Luther a soldier of the Revolution.
The data which follow are obtained from the
papers on file in the pension claim, S. 21871, based
upon his military service.
James Luther was born February 18, 1747 in
Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
While a resident of East Greenwich, Kent County,
Rhode Island, he served from June 1775, six or eight
months as private in Captains John Glazier's and
Stephen Kimball's companies in Colonel John Waterman's
Rhode Island regiment.

Shortly after the expiration of this service, he moved to Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island, and served as private in the Rhode Island Militia, as follows- in the spring of 1776, one month under Ensign Jesse Angell in Colonel  West's regiment; from December 1776, two months in Captain Coomer Smith's company; in February or March 1777, one month in Captain Coomer Smith's company; in October 1777, one month in Captain Coomer Smith's company; in August 1778, one month in Captain Coomer Smith's company, Colonel Chad Brown's regiment, and was in the battle of Rhode Island; and later one month in Captain Coomer Smith's company and two months in Captain Rhodes' company. He was allowed pension on his application exe-
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cuted July 17, 1833, at which time he was living in Scituate, Rhode Island.
He died November 26, 1834.
Soldier's daughter Chloe Whidden, in 1833 was sixty-two years of age and living in Scituate. One John Whidden in 1833 was sixty-six years of age and living in Scituate, Rhode Island.
The name of soldier's wife is not on record, and there is no further reference to children.
Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. James Luther J.F. 21871
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE| RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE.

June 1775 | 6 or 8 mos. | Prvt. | John Glazier | John Waterman | R.I.
Spring 1776 | 12 mo. | " | Stephen Kimball | West | "
Dec. 1776 | 2 mos. | " | Coomer Smith
Feb or Mar 1777 | 1 mo. | " | Coomer Smith
Oct 1777 | 1 mo. | " | Coomer Smith
Aug. 1778 | 1 mo. | " | Coomer Smith Chad Brown
after above | 1 mo. | " | Coomer Smith
(check mark) | 2 mos. | " | Rhodes

Battles engaged in, Rhode Island
Residence of soldier at enlistment, East Greenwich Kent Co. R.I.  Scituate R. I.
Date of application for pension, July 17, 1833 His [illegible] was at
Residence at date of application, Scitate, Providence Co. R.I.
Age at date of application, born at Swansea, Bristol Co. Mass. Feby 18, 1747
Remarks: in 1833 soldiers daughter Chloe Whidden lived at Scituate R. I. 62 yrs of age

Conl John Whidden
66 yrs 1833 Sept.
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APPLIANCES
FIXTURES
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES
WIRING

L.L. LUTHER
"EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL"
PHONE 91-W
PULASKI, N.Y.
Sept. 17, 1931

Veterans Administration,
Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. and 1812 War sections,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Please send me the Revolutionary record of James Luther, who was born in Rhode Island, in 1747, and married Sarah Bowen. Also any family data available.
Yours truly,
Leslie Luther
Leslie L. Luther
LLL/B
Revolutionary & 1812 Wars Section
Sept 21 1931
Bureau of Pensions
Received Sep 19 1931
Mail Sus Div.
US VB
Reader
24
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3-871
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Briefed by A. Mar D. 30/7/10
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant b. in Mass.
Soldier James Luther
Service
Additional Service Rev. born at Swansea Mass Feby 19, 1747
No  claim, State records  , 190
No claim, combination records  , 190
REMARKS:
Try:
Div. F. 21871 (R.I.)
[illegible] 7.20, 545 (mass)
No. Rej.
If not above cannot identify
Chief Division
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Sterling, Conn.
July 28, 1910

To the Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions.
Washington, D.C.
Revolutionary War soldiers

Can you give me any information regarding James Luther who was born in Swansea, Mass. Feb. 19, 1747 and who served in the Revolutionary war, or of Martin Luther who was also a soldier I believe
Mrs. Wallis Vaughan, Very respectfully yours Sterling, Conn. Louise M. Vaughan
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Revolution
21871
INVALID.
File No. 21871
James Luther
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 '32
Indes: Vol. 2, Page 949
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1910 Aug 4 His. to Louise M. Vaughan
1931- Oct 2 hist to  Leslie L. Luther [illegible]
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I Elisha Mathewson of Scituate in the County of
Providence State of Rhode Island aged sixty six
years being him duly Sworn on oath do testify & say
1
that I am well acquainted with James Luther of
Scituate in said County, & have known him from
amount of the time
boyhood. He moved from East Greenwich a [illegible] at that time to Scituate
& lived in my Fathers house or shop, during which time the enemy had possession of Newport R.I. It was said at the time by the neighbors that in said Luther was in the battle on Rhode Island & I heard said Luther make the same statement about that time. It was also the common talk of the neighborhood at the time, what was said Luther had served as a soldier, several tours of duty at different times during the War. The said Luther has lived within a mile of my residence ever since Revolutionary war.

Elisha Mathewson

State of Rhode Island in Providence Gr.
In Gloucester this thirteenth day of July 1833
before me Samuel Y Atwell a Public Notary in aforesaid County of Providence duly commissioned & sworn & authorised
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by law to administer oaths & take depositions, personally appeared Elisha Mathewson. Whom being duly sworn on oath says that the foregoing deposition by him signed in my presence in just & true in all its parts. I further certify what the said Deponent who is well known to me is a credible person & that her statements is entitled to credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my sal of office this day & year aforesaid
Saml Y Atwell Pub. Noty
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I John Whidden of Scituate in the County of Providence
State of Rhode Island aged sixty six years being duly
Sworn on oath do testify & say that I am well acquainted with
James Luther of Scituate aforesaid & have known him
for upwards of fifty years last thus far. I knew him during the
revolutionary war he then had lived in said Scituate in a house or
shop belonging to Thomas Mathewson [illegible]
from said Luther & from my Father & [illegible]
the aforesaid Luther served as a soldier serving a term of
duty in the [illegible] at different times during said
war. One time in particular I saw him on his return from
a tour of duty as a soldier, with his gun Knapsack
it was said he had been to the shore of the bay. I also
recall of hearing several persons state at the times, that
said Luther was in Sullivans expedition I was in the state of  Rhode Island. The said Luther has lived
as a neighbor to me know this revolution [illegible] live with in a short distance from me
John Whidden
State of Rhode Island 
Providence
In Gloucester this thirtieth day of July 1833 before
me Samuel Y Atwell a Public Notary in aforesaid County
of Providence duly commissioned & sworn & authorized by law
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to administer oaths & take depositions personally appeared John Whidden, who being duly sworn on oath says that the foregoing deposition by him signed in my presence contains the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth & further certify that the said Deponent is a credible person that his statement is entitled to credit. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office the day & year aforesaid.

Sam Y. Atwill. Pub. Noty.
Providence 
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations 
I Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island hereby certify that Samuel Y. Atwell before whom the aforegoing affidavits were sworn was at the time a Publick Notary for the Town of Gloucester and County of Providence, and duly empower oaths to administer and take depositions and that the signatures to the annexed documents purporting to be his is in the proper hand writing of said Atwell In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Providence this Seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty three Dexter Randall Clk
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State of Rhode Island
Providence Co.
In Scituate this thirteenth day of September 1833 before me Samuel Y. Atwell a Public Notary in & for said County duly  commissioned & [unintelligible] authorised by law to administer oaths & to take deposition personally appeared James Luther a resident of [unintelligible] aforesaid who being duly sworn on oath testifies & says (in amendment of his application for a pension under the act of June 1832) that he served as a private soldier as he times 2 with manner States in his declaration, that he served as a minute man as he has herein States and as in  active service & not employed in any civil [unintelligible] a period - not less than six months out of the eight months mentioned in his declaration, that he was stationed at East Greenwich R.I. & served as a Sentry at the month of the [unintelligible], that from old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot recollect the names of all his officers under whom he served at East Greenwich but he recollects Senior Col. John Law & Major Joseph Fry as being
his regimental officers & that Col Fry who was an
officer in the Kentish Guard Sometimes had the command of the troops stationed at that place to protect the inhabitants from an attack of the enemy who had with their ships the command of the bay & which after the war daily expected, that it is impossible for him to state the particular days on which he
Page 21

served with any accuracy the names of all the
officers who at different times commanded him
as he is very old & in bad health, but his
position that he was in actual service as a minute
man as before stated a period of at least Six
months between June 1775 when he enlisted as
Such & February 1776 when he was discharged
as is stated in his declaration, that he served
Stephen Kimball was the Captain of the Company of militia in which he was first drafted after the remounts to Sesterate as is stated in his said declaration
James Luther

Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year first mentioned In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office the day & year first written
Sam. M. Atwater Pub. Noty.
Page 22

I Cloe Whidden of Scituate in the County of Providence aged 62 years being duly Sworn on oath do say that I well recolect hearing my Father James Luther frequently say, after we removed from East Summit to state that he served as a minute man while he lived at said East Greenwich in the years 1775-6. & I also remember of Seeing him armed & equipped as a Soldier frequently while in kind at said East Greenwich. I cannot state any particulars of his service at that time as I was very young, I also know that the said James Served as a Soldier several times after he removed to said Scituate’
Chloe Whidden
State of Rhode Island 
Providence
In Scituate the thirteenth day of September 1833 before me Samuel Y. Struck a Public Notary in the said County duly Commissioned & personally appeared Chloe Whidden who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that the above declaration was signed in my presence is just & true in all its parts. I further certify that it appears to me from the testimony of respectable & credible persons with whom I am acquainted that the said Chloe Whidden is a very respectable lady & that her statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal of office the day year above written.
 Sam. Y. Atwater Pub Noty.
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Providence
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
-
H Dexter Randall
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the
County of Providence in the State of Rhode
Island do hereby certify that Samuel Y Atwell before
whom the aforegoing affidavits were
sworn was at the time a Publick Notary for
the County of Providence, and duly authorised
to administer oaths and take depositions; and
the signatures to the aforegoing documents
purporting to be his are in the proper
hand writing of the said [illegible]
In witness whereof I
hereunto set my hand and
affix the seal of said Court
at Providence this Eighteenth
day
of September AD 1833
Dexter Randall Clk
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41

Name Luther, John
Warrant Number 13334
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Grade Drummer
ACREAGE 100
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Line Hazen's Regiment
December 31, 1789
to -not shown-
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.