Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38,565, William Boswell, R. I.
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Service-Rhode Island
Boswell, William
Number-S38.565
BL Number 1527-100
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Received Windham August 1st 1829 of J.N.. Eaton Esquire Secretary of War a warrant granted to William Boswell No 1527 of the Rhode island Line dated Washington July 28th 1829 Samuel Lee
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[Two panels]
[Left panel]
Notification sent to Benjamin Cowell
31 July 1831
Providence Rhode Island 
[Right panel]
1819
4 
Rhode Island
William Boswell
Foster in the State of Rhode Island
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel found on roll Angel of the Rhode Island line 
for the term of 6 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 23 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of March 1819
and sent to Judge Howell, Providence
Rhode Island
Arrears to 4th of March 1819.10 months 83.16
Semi-annual ending 4 Sept 1819            48-
$131.16
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818 }
Continental
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William Boswell private
Rhode Island Regiment
1777 to 1783 23 April 1818
Judge Howell
Benjamin Cowell Esquire Clerk
District Court
Providence Rhode Island-
Received June 6, 1818---
The Judge has not certified
to the indigent circumstances
of the applicant-
proof of poverty produced
Admitted
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I William Boswell of Foster in the County ofn
Providence and District of Rhode Island on oath
say that on the fifteenth day of June 1783
received a discharge herewith presented,
from the American army, having served
therein six years three months and one
day in the Rhode Island regiment in
the Continental establishment against
the British, which is certified by said
discharge under the Signature
of George Washington. I further on oath
say that I am in reduced circumstances
and stand in need of the assistance of
my country for Support
William Boswell
Rhode Island District 23 April 1818.
Personally appears the said William Boswell
and maketh solemn oath to the truth
the foregoing declaration by him subscribed.
In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed
my signature and caused the seal of the
court also to be hereto affixed
David Howell
District Judge.
the signature of the Judge and the seal of the
District Court are hereto affixed
attest
Benjamin Cowell
Clerk of said Court
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William Roswell 
Number 7.819 Sept. 1819
Suspended
Benjamin Cowell
Providence Rhode Island
[illegible] 
sent, 31 July 1821-
letter 13 Nov 1820
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
Providence, sc.
District Court Special Term June Twelfth A.D. 1820
On this twelfth day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said District William Boswell aged 60 years, residing in the town of Foster
Who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
in said District, who being
That he served in Colonel Olneys Regiment of the Rhode Island Line a period of six years
that he made a previous declaration on the third day of April 1818 and that he has received a certificate for a pension, being Number [blank]
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and
that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part
thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled
"An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the
revolutionary war,” passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; that I
have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have
I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
William Boswell
SCHEDULE of Property and income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of William Boswell Vz [namely]
about forty eight acres of poor land in said Foster
With a log house thereon, 1 cow, 5 sheep, 1 hog, 3 chairs, 1 table, 6 cups and saucers, 1 old plough, 3 [illegible] some knives and forks, other than the above I have no
property-
and this declarant saith he is a labourer, and unto which he is unable, that he is duly involved in debt
that he owes now more than fifty Dollars that
he has a helpless wife, and one Son 18 years old who 
is entirely helpless being an idiot, then without
his pension he must depend in his old age upon charity
for support
William Boswell
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
Sworn to and declared
in open Court on the twelfth day of
June 1820 before
David Howell District Judge
Rhode Island District
Clerk's Office of the District Court, A. D. 1882
I Benjamin Cowell clerk of said court do hereby certify 
that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said
Clerk of said Court do hereby certify,
in the harder that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is ninety dollars and__cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this
the tenth day of October
1820
Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court
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Revolution and 1812
Wars Section
ILL
August 19, 1930.
Mrs. Laura Phillips
North Scituate, Rhode Island.
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 38865, that William Boswell
enlisted, served as a private in Colonels Israel Angell's and
Jeremiah Olney's Rhode Island Regiments and was discharged June 15, 1783, length of service six years, three months and one day,
He was allowed pension on his application executed
April 23, 1818, while a resident of Foster, Providence County,
Rhode Island.
In 1820, soldier stated that he was sixty years of age,
and referred to his wife and his son, aged eighteen years, their
names not given. His wife died a few days after September 28,
1820. She was a little older than the soldier.
In 1829, soldier stated that he was aged seventy-six
years, no explanation of the discrepancy in statements regarding
his age.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
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L. Office 27th July, 1829.
Honorable John H. Eaton 
Secretary of War
Washington City, D.C.
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Windham July 22 1829
J. M. Eaton Esquire
Sir I send you enclosed
a declaration subscribed by William Boswell a [illegible] 
in the Rhode island Regiment who wishes
to procure his bounty land, having made
me his attorney. I wish you to send me the
Warrant for the quantity of Land due to him.
on the reception of the warrant I will send
to a receipt for the same, by this complying
you will concur a favor on your friend
Respectfully Yours
Saml Lee
P.S.
his discharge you have in the office. I will refer you
to his pension Bill No 1819
Granted 1821
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papers to be filed in with William Boswells schedule in the pension office 
To Benjamin Cowell Esquire Providence the Within Contains the Depositions time of William Boswell relating to getting a pention[sic] taking and sealed up by me
William Potter Justice of peace
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Jonathan Anthony Junior of Foster in the County
of Providence and State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantation of Lawful age am engaged
according to law testify and say
William Boswell is a man about seventy years of age
not capable of doing much Labour Caused by a fever
sore on his leg. said Boswell has an idiot son
about Nineteen years of age not capable of doing
any Labour. nor never was according to the best
information that I have. nor never will be
in my opinion. said Boswells wife, I was called to visit
1818 November 17. she was then sick and she
said she had been for some months under the
care of a Doctor. I attended her as her Physician
in company with Doctor Thomas Hubbard from
the above date to September 28th 1820. Mrs. Boswell
Expired a few days after. said Boswell is a
temperate man as to spiritious liquors. I 
cannot accurately state my demands against
said Boswell for my Book is not posted and
have not time to do it present
Jonathan Anthony Junior
Providence ss. at Foster January the 19 1821
Personally came Jonathan Anthony Junior subcriber to
the above Deposition and made Solemn oath to
the same Before me 
William Potter 
Justice of the Peace
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DEPARTMENT OF WAR
Regulations for the Office and Soldiers of the Revolutionary War who acquired a right to land from the United State but have not received it.
By an Act of Congress of the 16th September, 1776, it is provided, that the Officers and Soldiers who engaged
for, and continued to serve, during the War, or until discharged by Congress, shall receive land in proportion to their rank.
N. B. Those who engaged for three years, or for any other period than during the war, are not entitled to land from the United States.
The following declaration must be filled up and sworn to by the claimant:
State of Rhode island
County of
Providence ss.
Foster County of Providence July 16th 1829
William Boswell  aged years, do, upon oath, testify and declare, that, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven
Seventy Six I enlisted for the term of “during the war”, and served in the regiment No. Two
command of Colonel Israel Angel [sic] of the Rhode Isalnd Line 
that I continued under in the service aforesaid until the close of the war, when I was regularly discharged from the infantry 
regiment, commanded by Colonel Jeremiah Olney
I further declare, that I have never received a warrant for the Bounty Land promised to me on the part of the
United States; nor have I ever assigned or transferred my claim in any manner whatsoever: therefore,
Know all men by these presents, that I, William Boswell aforesaid
constitute and appoint
Samuel Lee Esquire of Windham to be my true and lawful
attorney, for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a warrant for the quantity of Land due to me as aforesaid; and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purposes above expressed.
Attest,
William Boswell
I, John Philips, aged seventy two years do, upon 
oath, declare that I have been long acquainted with William
Boswell who has subscribed the above declaration in my presence and well know that he is the identical person he therein represents himself to be; and further, I know, or do believe, that he did perform the military service therein stated.
Attest
Johon [sic] Philips
Before me, Daniel Howard Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid personally appeared the above named William Boswell subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and in my presence acknowledged the power of attorney thereto subjoined, to be his free act and deed; and likewise, personally appeared John Philips who hath subscribed the above certificate of identity, both to me well known to be men of respectability and truth, and made solemn oath to the truth of the depositions by them respectively subscribed, this 14 day of July AD 1829
Daniel Howard
Justice of the Peace
In testimony that the above written Daniel Howard Esquire was a magistrate authorized to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments, etc., in the State of Rhode Island at the above date, and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature, I have hereunto affixed the
county seal, and subscribed my name and quality, at Providence on this 20th day of July 1829
William H Smith C, [county] Clerk, etc.
This law expires 3rd March, 1827.
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The Deposition of Zadock Young of Foster in
the County of Providence who being engaged
according to law testifies and says that he is well
acquainted with William Boswell of said Foster
and with the circumstances of his family-- said
William is now in a very feeble state of health and  
so much so as to be unable to work-- he has
a wife aged about seventy he thinks rather older than himself who is entirely helpless
being bedridden - he has also a son aged
about 18 years who is an Idiot entirely
helpless needing as much case as an infant.
This deponent does not believe his whole
property would sell for ninety dollars
Z. Young
Rhode Island District
In Providence 4 October 1820
personally appeared before me the above
named Zadock Young and made solemn oath
to the truth of the deposition by him
signed.
Benjamin Cowell
Commissioner
of the District Court
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To whomsoever it may Concern this may certify that
I am not particularly acquainted with the circumstances
of William Boswell of this town whose pension I understand
suspended, but from information which I confide in
respecting the inability of himself and family to labor
together with the unproductive quality of the soil he
possesseth induceth me to believe him to be one of the
persons who are entitled to the benefit of the pension law
Robert Hopkins
Foster January the 17th AD 1821
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The Deposition
of Zadock Young of Foster
in the State of Rhode Island who being engaged
according to Law says that he is well acquainted with
William Boswell of Porter an applicant for a
pension that he has known him for the last twenty
years. said Boswell is very hard working on
but has a family one of which is entirely
helpless, the
support. This Deponent verily believes that all the
property he possesses would not bring two hundred
dollars. that he is now reputed to be upwards of 70
is
years and incapable of doing much labor
This deponent verily believe him to be deserving
the assistance of his country
H. Young
Rhode Island District ss.
I certify that on this first day of February 1849 personally
appeared before me the above named Zadock Young and 
made oath to the truth of the deposition by him
above signed
Witness Benjamin Cowell
Commissioner District Rhode IslandDistrict  this 2nd February 1819
Entire credit is due to his foregoing Deposition
David Howell
District Judge
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William Boswell
Number 1527
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Applicant aged 60 years
- wife died after schedule was made out 
-son 18 years old-- an idiot
-8 acres of land and a log house
 Schedule $90.
served more than 6 years
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By HIS EXCELLENCY
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esquire
General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the
United States of America.
THESE are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof
William Boswell soldier in the Rhode Island Regiment, having faithfully served the United States six Years three months and 
one day
being inlisted for the War only, is
hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army.
GIVEN at HEAD-QUARTERS the
15th June 1783
G. Washington
By His EXCELLENCIES
Command,
J. Trumbull [illegible]
REGISTERED in the Books.
of the Regiment, Rhode Island
[illegible] Inman Adjutant
THE above
William Powell
has been honored with Badge of Merit for six [illegible] war 
Years faithful Service
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[Three columns}
[Left column]
Mrs. Berta
[illegible] Connecticut

[Center column]
38565
INVALID.
Levy
File number 38,565
William Boswell
Private Revolutionary War
Act: 18 March 18
Index:Volume 3, Page 53

[Right column]
Aug. 16, 1904, History to
H. Burleson, Jewett Ci
January 21,’08 [1908] History to W.H. Bro
1918 March. 4. To Mrs. R. E. Lockridge
1930 - August 19. History to
Mrs. Laura Phillips
ILL.
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W. H. BROWN, Postmaster W. T. CAUMB, Assistant Post Master United States Post Office JEWETT CITY, CONNECTICUT Jan. 14 1908. Commisioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. Dear Sir: - I want to ascertain the date of the death of William a revolutionary soldier. He was granted a pension in 1819, under act of 1818. His residence was Foster, Rhode Island till his death. He probably died about the year 1835. Your records will probably show the date of his death. Yours respectfully, W. H. Brown
[round stamp] U.S. Pension Office January 15, 1908
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J.L. SHERILL PRESIDEST
H. S BENNETT VICE-PRES.
H. E. LOCHRIDGE CASHIER
H.C. Neale Assistant Cashier
THE ExCHANGE BANK
73-III
Mayfield Kentucky
February 25, 1918
CommissionerPensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
Will you kindly send me
Pension Certificates, if there are such, of the following
Revolutionary Soldiers
John Miles -
Old Congress Regiment, Pennsylvania.
Jacob Boswell 6th (old) Pennsylvania Regiment
38525 William Boswell - Rhode Island Regiment, Colonel Olney
Henry Bradley, Maryland Regiment -
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Thomas Carman Virginia Regiment
William Beasley 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment Colonel R. Butler
2nd Pennsylvania Regiment Colonel Hampton and Colonel Stewart.
1st Pennsylvania Regiment Colonle D. Broadhead
3rd Maryland Regiment
Edward Elliott Maryland Regiment.
Thanking you for your kindness,
I am
Most Respectfully
Mrs. R. E. Lochridge
Regent Mayfield Chapter D.A.R. [Daughters of the American Revolution]
[round stamp] U.S. Pension Office February 28, 1918
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only William Boswell of Providence County Rhode Island
North Scituate, Rhode Island
July 27, 1930
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sirs
Can you give me the Revolutionary service of
William Boswell, born in London, England, residing
Providence, and also any information concerning his 
Marriage
Respectfully
Mrs. Laura Phillips
North Scituate, Rhode Island
[round stamp] U.S.PENSION OFFICE July 30, 1930
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for a statement of the military history of William Boswell
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
[Table with five columns with headings as follows:]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT/LENGTH OF SERVICE/RANK/OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED/STATE
[illegible]/6 years, 3 months, 1 day, ending June 15, 1783/Private/Colonel Angell, Colonel Olney/Rhode Island
Battles engaged in,__
Residence of soldier at enlistment,___
Date of application for pension, April 23, 1818. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island
Age at date of application, 58 years
Remarks: In 1820 soldier's wife aged about 70 years died and he
there had a son age 18 yrs. their names are not stated.
For date of last payment of pensions and probable date of his death you should apply to the Auditor for the[illegible]  Department, Treasury Department. citing the following data, William Boswell [illegible] 7819 issued Mar 18, 1819, Act Mar 18, 1818 Rhode Island Agency
Very Respectfully,
Mr. N.H. Brown
[illegible]