Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 21,194, Pardon Fenner, R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Fenner, Pardon
NUMBER
S 21.194
carded
CONTENTS
[blank]
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27287
Rhode Island
Pardon Fenner in the Com^y commanded by Captain [blank] of the Colo commanded by Colo Stark[?] in the RI line for 24 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of RI at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of March 1834 and sent to Benjamin Cowell Esq^r Providence RI
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $240
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep [1834]  [$] 40
[Total] $280
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 109 [possibly 169]
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State of Rhode Island
County of Providence sc.
On this 14th day of February AD 1834 personally appeared before me [Judge crossed through] Stephen Branch Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County Pardon Fenner resident in Johnston in said County aged 81 years who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, viz.
He entered the War of the Revolution and served as herein stated
In answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he answers and says -
to 1st He was born in said Johnston March 3rd 1753
2nd His birth is recorded in a family Bible
3 He lived in said Johnston when he was first called into service, and since said War he has always resided in said Town
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4. He volunteered by joining a troop of Light Horse as herein stated.
5. He served under Major General Spencer General Sullivan Colonel Benjamin Stack [possibly Stark] Daniel Manton
6. He never received any written discharge
7. Rec^d Martin Cheney Samuel W King & [illegible] Thornton
And this applicant further saith that at about the beginning of the year 1775 he joined a corps of Cavalry, as a private which had been raised in said Johnston and adjoining towns & continued in it for six years following or thereabouts. Said Corps was Commanded when he joined it by Colonel Benjamin Stark & subsequently by Col Daniel Manton. It was an independent Company or Corps chartered by an act of the Legislature & called the "Captain General Cavaliers" It was
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[and was crossed through] not attached to any Regiment The members furnished themselves with horses and kept themselves in readiness to obey the calls of their Country All the military services this applicant performed during the Revolutionary War were performed as a private in the Company except a short time in the latter part of the War when the French fleet were in Newport when he served on Rhode Island for a short time
And this applicant further saith that soon after the Battle of Lexington this Corps put itself in readiness to serve the Country, and it did so serve until the end of the War. At this distant period of time it is out of the power of this applicant to enumerate all his services. After the enemy took possession of Newport & for three years following he was in active service more than half of the time. By a Note[or Vote] of the Corps they tendered their services to Major General Spencer who accepted them & kept them most constantly employed in watching the enemy & garding [guarding] the
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shores of Narragansett Bay and being at that time the only Company of Light Horse in the North part of the State their duties were very constant and arduous. This applicant cannot from the loss of memory state exactly the number of months in each year from 1775 to 1780 he was in actual service yet he avers that in the year 1775 between April & January of that year he served two months at least. In 1776 he served four months at least. In 1777 he served six months and in 1779 six months. All these services were performed in the State of Rhode Island & along the shores of the Bay, sometimes on one shore & sometimes on the other. They were sometimes at Providence, East Greenwich Warwick & even sometimes down as far as Point Judith on the Western shore & sometimes at Warren  Bristol & Tiverton on the Eastern shore. The frequent incursions of the enemy who had a fleet in the Bay rendered these duties arduous. This applicant avers that he served not less than twenty four
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months at least in actual service as a private while a member of said Corps -
And this applicant further saith the he left said Corps in 1781. He was called out upon an alarm & he went to Newport in Capt D. Spragues Company of Militia & served as a private in said Company not less than 15 days - For all these services he claims a pension. He has no documentary evidence to prove his service but can produce witnesses, and he here produces the testimony of the persons before named.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State or Territory 
[signature] Pardon Fenner
Providence sc. In Johnston Febr^y 14th Sworn to before me
[signature] Stephen Branch C.J.C.C.P.C.P. -
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We Martin Cheney of North Providence (near Johnston) a Clergyman resident in said town and Samuel W King of said Johnston hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Pardon Fenner who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration that we believe him now to be 81 years one years [repeated] of age that 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 said Pardon has always sustained a good character for truth & veracity
[signature] Martin Cheney
[signature] Sam W King
Providence sc In Providence
Feby 17 Then came Samuel W King and on the 19th came Martin Cheney and were both Sworn to the truth of the foregoing Statement
Before me Stephen Branch
Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County of Providence
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Revolution
21.194
Invalid. [Illegible, possibly initials to the right]
File No. 21.194
Pardon Fenner
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. [either "D" or "2"],
Page: 134
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Borden Thornton of Johnston in the County of Providence being 72 years of age on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Pardon Fenner of said Johnston an applicant for a pension - According to my best recollection said Pardon belonged to a Company of Light Horse called the "Captain Generals Cavaliers" first commanded by Col Stark & afterwards by Col Menton, when I joined said Corps, which was in 1777. Said Pardon belonged to it & was a private & had belonged, then, for two years or more I continued in it until the end of the War, but I believe said Pardon left it before, I have no doubt however, said Pardon belonged to it as much as six years as he has stated. And I further testify that during the time the British
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were in possession of Newport said Corps was in actual service one half of the time and I remember said Pardon was, according to my best recollection always with them & always performed his duty - I have no doubt said Pardon was in actual service while belonging to said Corps as much as twenty four months, as he has stated, during the years from 1775 to the end of 1780. Said Corps was in actual service full six months each [word blotted out: years] during the three years the British had possession of Rhode Island & I have no doubt he served as much as six months in the two preceding years
[signature] Borden Thornton
Providence sc In Johnston February 14th 1834
Then came Borden Thornton and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement
Before me Stephen Branch C.J. C.C.P.C. P - [Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Providence]
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I Caleb Remington of Johnston in the State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Pardon Fenner of said Johnston who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration. I was a member of said Corps called the Captain Generals Cavaliers from the beginning of 1775 to 1780 over six years & am knowing to the principal facts stated in said declaration, and I also testify that said Pardon was a member of said Corps as he stated that he served therein as a private during that time After said Corps tendered their services to General Spencer they were on duty full half of the time while the British
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had possession of Newport, and I have no doubt said Pardon served twenty four Months in the years he has stated that he served. He always performed his duty & was [word crossed through] generally always with them. I am now 86 years of age.
[signature] Caleb Remington
Providence sc In Providence Feby 17th 1834
Then personally came Caleb Remington and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement
Before me Stephen Branch
Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Providence
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And I the said Judge do hereby certify that after attending to the investigation of the matter aforesaid and putting the interogatories to the witnesses aforesaid as prescribed by the War Department I am of the opinion that the above named Pardon Fenner applicant was a soldier in the Revolution and served as by him stated, and I do further certify that I am personally acquainted with Martin Cheney that he is a clergyman residing in the Town of Johnston. That the said Samuel W King & Borden Thornton residing in the Town of Johnston and Caleb Remington residing in the Town of Johnston who have signed and sworn to the foregoing statements are credible persons and I believe their attestations are entitled to full force & credit And I the said Judge do further certify that from sickness and bodily infirmity the
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said applicant is and has been for some time past unable to leave his house or to attend in open Court.
Stephen Branch Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County of Providence
[partial typed document with handwritten entries affixed to the bottom of the above document]
the county of Providence in the State of Rhode-Island, do hereby certify [remainder of line obscured] Branch is a Judge of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record; that the signature to the aforegoing documents purporting to be his are in the proper hand writing of the said Stephen Branch; and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of the said Stephen Branch
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Providence this twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord 1834
[signature] Dexter E Randall Clk
[seal affixed to the left]
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Said Applicant is and has been for some time past unable to leave his home or to attend in open Court.
[signature] Stephen Branch Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County
[following typed document with handwritten entries pasted over the bottom of the above document page]
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Providence, sc.
I [the name William Watson crossed through] Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the county of Providence in the State of Rhode Island, do certify, that Stephen Branch is a Judge of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record; that the signature to the aforesaid documents purporting to be his, are in the proper hand writing of the said Stephen Branch and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of the said Stephen Branch
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Providence this twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord 1834
[signature] Dexter E Randall Clk
[seal affixed to left]
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Pardon Fenner
31.083
Johnston Providence RI
[faint handwriting illegible]
Benjamin Cowell Esq
Providence R.I.
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Providence Feb 27 1834
Sir
I have the honor herewith to enclose the applications of Pardon Fenner & Stephen Thornton for pensions under the act of June 7th 1832
I am respectfully your obt svt
Benjn Cowell
J.L. Edwards Esq