Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17516, for Tibbits Rathbone, Rhode Island
Page 1

SERVICE | [blank] | NUMBER
R.I. | Rathbone, Tibbits | W17516
[blank] | or Rathbun | [blank]
Rebecca
Page 2

[left page]
Let to Hon S. Gordon feb 2.
1842.
Hon A Babcock
February 14th 1842
to Jos. Drouillard July 14:42
[right page]
13,350
New York
Tibbits Rathbone
at Rensselaer Co in the state of N York
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Olney - of the R Island
line, for the term of nine months
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 8- Dollars per month, to commence on
the 20 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 of July [1819?]
and sent to John L. Cushman
East Troy N York
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819 10 mo 11/30 [unreadable] 83.90
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819 48-
$131.96
Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March 181[3?]
Page 3

New York 3952
Rebecca Rathbun
widow of Tibbits Rathbun
who died on the 14th July 1820
Delaware Co in the State of New York
who was a Private in the [blank] commanded
by Captain R.I. of the Regimt commanded
by Col. Olney in the Rhode Island
line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum
& commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Novem
ber, 1843 and sent to Wm
Pierce, Albany NY
Arrears to the 4th of September 1843 $1000
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 44  40
$1040.00
Revolutionary Claim
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the [blank]
Recorded by G. C. Ames Clerk.
Book 6 Vol. 1 Page 126
Page 4

TIbbits Rathbone
a Soldier
20 Ap 1818 - private
Col Topham Two years
O[l]ney  Nine months
Rhode Island.
12 mo Topham
9 Olney
Further proof of
Service and dates
of Enlistments re-
quired
Admitted on
Major Dexter's 
Certificate
Page 5

State New York
Rensselaer County
Tibbits Rathbone on the 20th day of April 1818 personally appeared before me the Subscriber for the Judges of
the Court of Common Pleas of said County aged Sixty Two res
-ident in the Town of Berlin state aforesaid who being by
me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the pro-
-vision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act
to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and na
-val service of the United States in the Revolutionary War
that the said Tibbits Rathbone enlisted in the year
1775 in the Town of Providence in the State of Rhode
Island in the Company commanded by Captain Christopher
O[l]ney in a Regiment commanded by Col. Hitchcock for
the space of Eight months that he faithfully performed
his duty as a private soldier against the common ene
my the time of the above enlistment - that he then enlisted
under Captain Samuel Phillips under Colonel Topham
for the term of fifteen months he also faithfully perform
ed his duty for this above [unreadable] of Time - that he then
Enlisted under Captain Benjamin West for the Term of
Two Years in the Regiment commanded by the above
mentioned John Topham - that he faithfully perfor
med his duty for the Time of his said Enlistment that
he then Enlisted under Captain Paul Harrington in
the Regiment commanded by Colonel Richmond for the
Term of One Year - that he then Enlisted under Capt John
Holden in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Jeremi
-ah O[l]ney for the Term of Nine Months - that he contin[ued]
Page 6

[continued] to serve in said several Corps in the service of the
United States against the common enemy until the
20th day of December 1782 when he was honorably
discharged from Service in the Town of Saratoga in
the State of New York that he was in the Battle of
Bunker Hill and in Sul[l]ivan's expedition in the State
of Rhode Island where he was wounded in the hip
that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need
of the assistance of his Country for a support and that
he has no other evidence now in his power of his said
serving -
Sworn and [unreadable] before me
the day and year aforesaid
Tibbits Rathbone
X his mark
Daniel Gray, Judge
R.M. Davis
I Daniel Gray Esq. Judge of Rensselaer Common
Pleas do certify that it appears to my satisfaction
that the said Tibbits Rathburn did serve in the
Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declara
-tion against the Common Enemy and I now
transmit the proceedings and testimony taken &
had before me to the Secretary of the War Departm
ent pursuant to the Directions of the aforesaid act of
Congress April 20th 1818
Daniel Gray
Page 7

I Daniel Gray Judge of Rensselaer Common Pleas
aforesaid do [unreadable] my own Personal Knowledge
further to certify that the within named Tibbits
Rathbone is in reduced circumstances & stands
in need of the assistance of his Country for
Support.  Daniel Gray
State of New York
Rensselaer County Clerk's Office
I certify that Daniel Gray Esquire,
whose signature is affixed to the foregoing declaration & 
Certificate was on the Twentieth day of April last [unreadable]
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in 
the County of Rensselaer
In Witness where of I have hereunto set my name & affixed
the Seal of the said Court, this twelfth day of June A.D. 1818
Joseph D. Selden
Clerk
Page 9

In the matter of the appli-
cation of Rebecca Rath-
bun for a pension under
the Act of July 4, 1836
Albany Sept. 30 1843
Sir,
The above applicant Rebecca Rathbun is the
widow of Tibbetts Rathbun, who was a Pensioner
under the Act of March 18, 1818.  As said Tibbetts
Rathbun served in the war a number of years, it is
hoped that the proof on file in the matter of his
application for said pension (to which his widow
respectfully refers) may be received as sufficient
proof of service in this application.
Said Rebecca
Rathbun was married in the year 1775, and all
her husband's revolutionary service was performed
thereafter.  She was married at Exeter R.I. by
Rev Solomon Sprague, and it is shown by the
affidavit of Squire Moore, that no record of the mar-
riage solemnized by said Sprague can be
found.
Thomas Matteson aged 72 testified that
during the war of the revolution he saw Tibbetts Rath-
bun at home visiting his said wife Rebecca, that he
had his gun with him, and shortly afterwards returned
to his duty.  That their son Gideon (whose family
record & affidavit is herewith included) was then four
or five years of age and that he has been acquainted
with them ever since.
This positive evidence that the 
applicant was married at the time claimed, is further
proved by the family records, accompanied by the
Page 10

affidavits of four of their children.  Gideon Rathbun,
the oldest child, was born in January 1776, and is
now upwards of sixty seven years of age.  His family
record & affidavit showing this, is supported by
the affidavits of four others, who testify that he is
at least sixty seven years of age.
This evidence, in the
absence of church or family record is respectfully
submitted as proof of applicant's marriage.
You
will please notice that there are [several?] affidavits
showing that said Tibbetts Rathbun was a Pen-
sioner under the Act of Congress of March 18, 1818.
I Have the honor & remain
With Great Respect 
Your Mo[st] Ob[edient] S[ervan]t
Wm B. Pierce
Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 11

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836
entitled "An act granting half-pay and pensions of certain widows."
State of New-York
Delaware County
On this [31?] day of July in the year
one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, personally appeared before Lyman Hakes
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas [unreadable] for said
County _________Rebecca Rathbun, a resident of the
town of Davenport in the County of Delaware, and said State of New York, aged
87 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by an act of Congress, passed July 4th
1836 entitled, "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
That she is the widow of Tibbetts Rathbun late of the town of Stephentown
in said State of New York who departed this life on the fourteenth day of July [1838].
That her husband the said Tibbetts Rathbun was a soldier during the
war of the Revolution, and in consideration of said service re-
ceived previous to the said day of his death a Pension of $76
per annum under the Act of Congress Dated March 18, 1818.
That her said husband at the time of his [unreadable] entering the
service, resided with this Declarant in the town of Exeter
and state of Rhode Island, from whence he enlisted into the
service of the United States, and served [unreadable] expeditions
during said war, but that owing to extreme old age & the conse-
quent loss of memory, this Declarant cannot relate the names of
his officers or the places where he served.  That a few years previ-
ous to his death he moved to Rensselaer County NY & lived with his sister
Lydia Bentley in Hoosick & that while there he obtained said pension
& that he went there for that purpose and remained there a [rest of line unreadable]
until his death & that he died in said County of Rensselaer.
And declarant further saith, That she was married to the said Tibbetts Rathbun
in the month of September seventeen hundred and seventy five by
Revd Solomon Sprague at Exeter, R.Island: that the following persons
were present at her marriage, to wit: John Rathbun, Agnes Rathbun and 
Braddock Kittle
That previous to her said marriage she resided in the town of East Greenwich
and bore the maiden name of Rebecca Strout
That her husband the said Tibbetts Rathbun died as aforesaid on the
fourteenth day of July Eighteen hundred & twenty
That she has been the mother of ten children by said
Tibbetts Rathbun, seven of whom are now living and that the
oldest Gideon Rathbun resides in said town of Devenport and
is upwards of sixty seven years of age.  That Declarant had a family
record containing the births of her said children, but the [unreadable] is now out
of her possession & she does not know whether it can be found.
Rebecca her X mark Rathbun
Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid,
before me & I certify that this
Declarant is unable to attend
Court by reason of old age & bodily
infirmity.  Note: "day" erased
Lyman Hakes, Judge of Delaware County Court
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State of New York Delaware County
I Crawford B Sheldon[,] Clerk of the
said County do hereby certify that
Lyman Hakes Esq before whom
the within Declaration of the within
named Rebecca Rathbun & the
affidavit of Tibby H. Rathbun
purports to have been take was
on the day of the date thereof
a Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for said County
and that his signature to each
is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the Seal of the said County August 3rd 1843
C B Sheldon, Clerk
Page 13

State of New York
Delaware County 
Gideon Rathbone of the town
of Devenport in said County aged sixty seven years on
the twenty third day of January last, that is to say,
he was born on the twenty third day of January 1776,
being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is in oldest
child of Tibbetts & Rebecca Rathbun.  That his father
the said Tibbetts Rathbun died at Stephentown or that part thereof now called Nassau on or about the [left blank]
day of July 1820 being at the time of his death a
Pensioner of the United States under the Act of Congress
passed March 18th 1818.  That his mother the said Rebecca
is still living near this deponent, a widow, and an
applicant for a Pension in consideration of the vo-
lutionary services of her husband, the said Tibbetts
Rathbun.  And Deponent further saith that the ac-
companying family record has been kept by this
Deponent as & for his own family record & contained a
time account of his own birth that of his wife &
of his children.  That his oldest child Polly is now
thirty eight years of age, and his eleventh & youngest
child Corbet[?] is upwards of nineteen years of age
and will more fully appear by reference & said rec-
ord.
Gideon his X mark Rathbun
Note the words "at Stephentown or that part
thereof now called Nassau" were inter-
lined before signing
Subscribed & sworn this 1st[?] day
of August 1843 before me & I certify
that said Gideon Rathbone is a cred-
ible witness & is I verily believe as old
as he stated
Jesse Booth [unreadable]
Page 14

State of New York County of Delaware[?]
I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of Said
County do hereby certify that Jesse
Booth Esq before whom the within
affidavit of Gideon Rathbone, & the
affidavit of John Snyder, Marga-
ret Moon & Corbit Orr purports
to have been taken was on the day
of the date of Each of their Said affida-
vits purports to have been Sworn
a Justice of the peace in and for
said County and that his Signature to each affi-
davit is genuine
In testimony whereof I have herewith Set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said County
August 3rd 1843
C B Sheldon Clerk
Page 15

Family Record.
[Left column]
BIRTHS.
Gideon Rathbun was
born. Jan. 2nd 1776
Mary Rathbun was
born April 30th 1785
Polly Rathbun was
born. March 12th. 1805
Samuel Rathbun was
born, August 19th 1806
Oliver Rathbun was
born. Feb. 4th. 1808
Rebecca Rathbun was
born. May 7th. 1810
Almyra Rathbun was
born. March 1st 1812
[Right column]
BIRTHS.
Gideon H. Rathbun was
born. April 8th. 1814
Phebe Rathbun was
born April 15th. 1815
Jane Rathbun was
born. January 29. 1818
Anne Rathbun was
born December 26th. 1817
Sally Rathbun was
born April 10th. 1822
Corbet Rathbun was
born, April 13th. 1824
Page 16

Family Record.
MARRIAGES.
[blank page]
Page 19

FAMILY RECORD.
BIRTHS.
William Moon was Born
July ye 20th 1784
Margaret Moon was Born July ye 28th
1784
William Moon [unreadable] was Born
November 20th 1804
Nancy Moon was Born January 3d
1807
Squire[?] Moon was Born May 20th
1809
Joy Moon was Born August 3rd 1811
Martha Moon was Born October 16th 1815
Cynthia Moon was born June 17th
1818
John Miller was born Jan [unreadable]
1821
Page 21

State of New York
Delaware County SS
Corbet Orr of the
town of Davenport in said county aged seventy one
years, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that the
accompanying record is the family record of the
deponent, that it was torn from the family Bible
for the express purpose of sending it to Washington
as evidence in obtaining the pension of Rebecca
Rathbun.  That Anna whose name is in the
above mentioned record is the wife of this deponent
and is the sixth child of Tibbits Rathbun and
Rebecca Rathbun.  And this deponent further saith
that the above named Tibbits Rathbun, previous to
his death, was a pensioner of the United States under
the Act of March 18th 1818.  That he died at Stephen-
town, or that part thereof now called Nassau, in
said state on or about the fourteenth day of
July one thousand eight hundred & twenty.
That the said Rebecca Rathbun is now a widow
and is still living in the town of Davenport in
said county is an applicant for a pension
that the oldest child of said Tibbits & Rebecca Rath-
bun, to wit. Gideon Rathbun, is also living in said
town of Davenport and is upwards of sixty-seven
years of age
Corbet Orr
Subscribed & sworn this 1st day
of August 1843 before me.
And I certify that Corbet Orr
is a credible witness
Jesse Booth Justice [of the] peace
Page 22

Corbit Orr was born July 11 1792
Anna Orr was born Nov. 18th 1789
Ferina Orr was born July 30 1809
Mary Orr was born Nov. 1st 1811
Matilda Orr was born Jan 8th 1814
Ruth C Orr was born Oct. 28th 1815
Nancy A Orr was born June 5th 1820
Corbit Orr and Anna Rathbun
was Married Oct. 27 1808
Page 23

State of New York
Delaware County
Tibbits H. Rathbun of the town of Davenport
in Said County aged forty seven years
being duly sworn deposeth and saith
that he is the Child of Tibbits & Rebecca
Rathbun that his father the Said Tibets
Rathbun was previous to his death a pensioner
of the United States under the act of March
18, 1818[.]  That he died at Stephen Town or
that part thereof now called Nassau in Said
State in or about the month of July ---
1820: That his mother the Said Rebecca Rathbun
is now a widow and is still living in the Town
of Davenport in Said County and is an
applicant for a pension[.]  That the oldest
child of Said Tibbits & Rebecca Rathbun
to wit Deponents oldest brother Gideon Rathbun
is also living in Said Town of Davenport
and is upwards of sixty seven years of age.
That the accompanying is the family record
of this deponent and contains a true account
of this deponent's birth and the birth of this
Deponent's children and is now submitted
in order to assist Deponent's mother in obtain-
ing her pension Deponent having been in-
formed that said record might be of service
in her Said application
Subscribed and sworn before me
this 31 day of July in the year 1843
Tibbits Rathbun
Lyman Hakes Judge of Delaware
County Courts
[Written vertically on left margin of page:]
I certify that the said
Tibbits H Rathbun is a creditable
witness
Lyman Hakes Judge of Delaware 
County Court
Page 24

Tibbets Rathbun was Born
July 10th 1796
Susanna Rathbun was Born
February 4th 1797
They were Married February
6th 18[unreadable]
Anna H Rathbun born
August 6th 1821
Hannah [unreadable - Marilla?] Rathbun
was Born July 12th 1823
Sabrina Rathbun was
Born february 11 1824
[unreadable name] was
Born Sept 16 1837
Page 25

[This appears to be the last page of the New Testament from the family Bible.  Ink has bled through from the other side but is unreadable.]
Page 26

Rev WIDOW, &c.

File No. 17516
Rebecca Rathbun
Wid. of Tibbits Rathbun
Pri. Rev. war
Act July 4, 1836
Index: Vol. M, Page 150

(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 28

It appears by the Regimental Book of Occurrences and Casualties, that
Tibbits Rathbone, now residing in Rensselaer County in the State of New
York, inlisted for, and served the full term of Nine Months, a Private
Soldier in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Command-
ant Jeremiah Olney, in the Rhode Island Line, on the Continental
Establishment, and that he was honourably discharged from Said
Regiment at Saratoga in the State of New York on the eighteenth
day of December 1782, being the expiration of the term of his said
inlistment.
Maj. Dexter [unreadable] Major of
said Regiment, codem tempore.
Providence March 18th 1819
Page 29

[Written vertically on left]
Jan 20. 1842
copy
R.G. Rathbun
[Written horizontally overlapping]
Hon J. L. Edwards
[unreadable] Commissions[?] &
Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 30

Washington Jan 19
Dr Sir
I am about to present to Congress the
petition of Rebecca Rathbun
which she has done me the honor
to rend to me praying for a pension
as the widow of Tibbits Rathbun a
Revolutionary soldier and and her now for
several years now deceased [unreadable]
her [unreadable] incomplete without a
copy of the [unreadable] of her deceased
husband on file in your office
on which his pension was granted.
I am under the [unreadable] of requesting
you to furnish me with a copy of
them.  He must have been on the
New York Roll or be [unreadable] in the
County of Delaware in the state.
I would like also a statement to what
time he continued to draw his
pension or [unreadable - corroborative?] evidence of
one fact alledged in the petition. 
With great respect
your obt srvt
S. Gordan
J. L. Edwards
[unreadable] of Pers.
Page 32

[Written vertically on left]
July 13 1842
Ohio
Rathbun
[Written horizontally in center]
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of
Pensions
Washington City
Page 34

STATE OF NEW YORK,
Otsego County Clerk's Office, ss. 
Samuel Russell Clerk of said
County, do hereby certify that Joseph Northrup Esquire, whose name
is subscribed to the annexed Certificate
was on the date of the same a Justice of
the Peace in and for said County, and duly authorised by law to take the same.  And
further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and
verily believe his signature to the said Certificate is genuine.  In testimony
whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County, the 19th day of
August A.D. 1843
Samuel Russell Clerk
Page 36

Rathbun the Wife of Tibbets Rathbun now lives in
the Town of Davenport in Dilleware [Delaware] County
NY and is an applicant for a pension
and further saith that Tibbets Rathbun the
husband of Rebecca Rathbun as was generally
reported drawed [drew] a pension in
the United States untill the Day of his
Death he died in Stephentown or
that part thereof called Nassau
and further saith not.
Thomas Matteson
Subscribed and Sworn to
before me this Second Day
of August in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty three
Josiah Northup Justice of the
Peace in the County of Otsego
I certify that Thomas
Matteson is a credible witness
Josiah Northup Justice
Page 37

State of New York
Delaware County
Squire Moon of the town of Daven
port in said County aged thirty three years & upwards being
duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is post master
of West Davenport in said town of Davenport.  That one
year ago last winter he was employed by Widow Rebecca
Rathbun of Davenport aforesaid to [unreadable] onto her claim upon
the United States for a pension.  That in the month of May
following to wit in May 1842 he visited Exeter Rhode
Island for the Purpose of obtaining record proof of the
[unreadable] marriage of said Rebecca (whose mai-
den name was Strait) to Tibbitts Rathbun which oc-
curred in the month of September 1775.  That after dil-
igent search and inquiry he then & there ascertained that
the church records kept by the Revd Solomon Sprague (who 
married said Tibbetts Rathbun & Rebecca Strait) were
either lost or destroyed and were not to be found.  That the
church & society over which said Solomon Sprague then
presided & of which he was Pastor, was dissolved and
scattered and not then existing.  That Deponent then ap-
plied to Thomas Phillips Jr. who was then town clerk
of Exeter and post master thereof.  That said Phillips
made diligent search of the records of said town but
could find no record of Said marriage.  And then & there
informed this Deponent that but very few of the mar-
riages solemnized by said Solomon Sprague were to
be found upon said town records.  And Deponent fur-
ther  saith that he well remembered said Tibbetts Rathbun
the husband of said Rebecca.  That said Tibbetts Rath-
bun was previous to his death a pensioner of the United
States, and resided for a few years previous to his death
in Hoosick, Rensselaer County with his sister Lydia
Bentley.  That he died in Rensselaer County more than
Page 38

twenty years ago, and that until the day of his death the
said Rebecca remained his lawful wife and has
since continued [unreadable] single & unmarried.
Squire Moon
Subscribed & sworn the 21st
day of August 1842 before me.
And I certify that said 
Squire Moon is a credible
witness.  Note "revolutionary 
services" erased before execution
Thompson Paine Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Delaware County SS
I Crawford B Slocum Clerk of said 
County do hereby certify that Thompson Paine before whom
the above affidavit of Squire Moon purports to have been
taken, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in &
for said County duly elected & sworn.  I do further
certify that I am acquainted with the handwriting
of the said Justice, have examined his signature
above written & verily believe the same to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here-
unto set my hand & affixed my
Official Seal this 22nd day of
August A.D. 1843
C. Slocum Clerk