Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21172, Robert Earl, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE                    NUMBER
Mass     Earl, Robert  S.21172
             or Earle

CONTENTS
Page 2

177
Rhode Island

Robert Earle
of Providence Co in the State of R Island
who was a [crossed out: in the  commanded]
[crossed out: by] Captain & Lieut of the Regiment commanded
by Colonels Pope & Whitney, in the
line, for the term of 9½ months as Lieut &
[crossed out: from 17 to (illegible)]
14 month, as Captain from 1776 to 1782.

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of $406.66/100 Dollars per [crossed out: month] annum,
commence on the 4 day of Mar. 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of Augus.
1832 - and sent to Mr
B. Cowell Providence R.I.

Arrears to 4th of March 1832... 406.66
semi-anl, all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1832.. 203.33
$609.99

Revolutionary Claim,
[crossed out: Acts March 18, 1818,]
[crossed out: and May 1, 1820.]
[handwritten] Act 7 June 1832

Recorded
Book D  Vol: 3
Page 109  G. W. C.
Page 3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Rhode-Island District, sc.
County of Providence 
On this 13th day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a special
District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session- Robert Earle a resident of Cranston in the County of Providence 
and State of Rhode Island aged 75 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, viz.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated That he was born September 4th 1757 at Westport
Massachusetts as by the records of that town will
appear and lived there untill he entered the service
of his country after the war he lived in said
Westport untill 1809 and then removed to New
Braintree where he lived 25 years and since then
has lived in Cranston in this State where he now lives
on the 26th day of April 1776 he was appointed a
2d Lieutenant in the 7th company & 2d regiment of
Massachusetts Militia under Capt William
Hicks and in the regiment of Col Edward Pope
as by his commission will appear but he
served a captain of the company under [illegible]
commission he served at Dorchester near Boston
and thereabouts three months in actual
service during the war in the year 1776 -
and also in the same year he served three months
in a company of minute men under Col William
Richmond on the Island of Rhode Island -
and he further saith that in the year 1777 he
served three months and a half in what was
called Spencers expedition against the British
on Rhode Island under the same commission
in Col Gray's regiment of Militia -
and he further saith that [crossed out: he served in Col]
[crossed out: Carpenters regiment] on the first day of August
1778 he received a Captains commission which is
[crossed out: he] here produced in Col Josiah Whitneys regiment
and served in and on the island of Rhode Island
during Sullivans expedition against the British
four months during said year in said regiment.
he also served ^in 1777 in Col Hathaways regiment in
Tiverton four months. [crossed out: immediately following]
he also served in Col Carpenters Regiment four
months in 1779 in which service he joined Col
[illegible/cut off word at bottom right]
Page 4

[handwritten] during Sullivans expedition against the British
four months during said year in said regiment.
he also served ^in 1777 in Col Hathaways regiment in
Tiverton four months. [crossed out: immediately following]
he also served in Col Carpenters Regiment four
months in 1779 in which service he joined Col
Greene's regiment & went on to Conanicut island
and had an encountre with the British Troops
on that island - he also served two months in the 
same year at a place called Howlands ferry under
Col Gray and Gen Varnum - in all which services
he served as Captain - and all the above services were
rendered during the war of the Revolution and were performed as above stated - knows of no person now living who can testify as to his services [end handwritten]
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
[the rest is handwritten]
Robert Earl
witness Benja Cowell [illegible]

I certify that from my early Boyhood say
AD 1785 to the year 1806 I was personally acquainted
with Col Robert Earl, then residing in the Town of
Westport Mass. - That the neighbourhood where he
resided I frequently visited & his house with others
was [crossed out: frequently] visited by me.  - That Col Earl was
highly respected as a man of unimpeachable integrity
. - At the time of ^my knowledge of him & his character
he was a Col in the Militia, (in the peace establishment)
that, he was considered the most efficient officer in
that district of Country. - That he was also sheriff
in the County of Bristol, & I have frequently [crossed out text]
heard it familiarly spoken off, that his services were
often called for ^at a distance from his own residence when firmness of conduct was necessary
to arrest desperate men, who were feared by others
who had warrants of arrest against them. - & that
in addition to his being a man of much mind, he
was more known by his promptness & energy of
action -
John W Richmond
Page 5

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[the rest is handwritten]
Robert Earl
witness Benja Cowell [illegible]

I certify that from my early Boyhood say
AD 1785 to the year 1806 I was personally acquainted
with Col Robert Earl, then residing in the Town of
Westport Mass. - That the neighbourhood where he
resided I frequently visited & his house with others
was [crossed out: frequently] visited by me. - That Col Earl was
highly respected as a man of unimpeachable integrity
. - At the time of ^my knowledge of him & his character
he was a Col in the Militia, (in the peace establishment)
that, he was considered the most efficient officer in
that district of Country. - That he was also sheriff
in the County of Bristol, & I have frequently [crossed out text]
heard it familiarly spoken off, that his services were
often called for ^at a distance from his own residence when firmness of conduct was necessary
to arrest desperate men, who were feared by others
who had warrants of arrest against them. - & that
in addition to his being a man of much mind, he
was more known by his promptness & energy of
action -
John W Richmond

Sworn to in open Court July 13 1832
B Cowell Clk
Page 6

I Burrington Anthony do certify and
that I am personally [crossed out text] acquainted
with Robert Earle, now resident in
Cranston - & have known him for twenty
years.  have always understood, he was
an officer in the Revolutionary War &
have also always understood, & do myself
believe him to be a man of truth
& veracity-
Burrington Anthony
July 13 1832 Sworn to in open Court
Benja Cowell Clk.
Page 7

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionory Soldier, and
served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that [handwritten] John W. Richmond Physician [end handwritten]
who has signed the preceding certificate, [crossed out: is a Clergyman, resident in the] [handwritten] and Burrington Anthony Marshal of
the [crossed out print: and that] N. [illegible] for Rhode Island [crossed out print: who also signed the same is a resident in the] have testified as aforesaid
me Citizens of Providence [end handwritten] and [crossed out: is a] [handwritten] are [end handwritten] credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of [handwritten] Robert Earle [end handwritten] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
this [handwritten] 26 [end handwritten] day of [handwritten] July [illegible] 1832
Benjamin Cowell Clk
Page 8

Rev. and 1812  [illegible handwritten text in upper right corner]
War Section.
[illegible handwritten text]

December 2, 1926

Mrs. Bentley W. Morse
34 Linden St
Providence, R. I.

Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 21172,
it appears that Robert Earl or Earle was born
September 4, 1757 at Westport, Massachusetts.
While residing at said Westport, he was
commissioned, April 26, 1776, Second Lieutenant
and served three months in Captain William Hix's
Company, Colonel Edward Pope's Massachusetts
Regiment; later in 1776 he served three months in a
company of Minute-Men under Colonel William
Richmond; in 1777 he served three and one half
months in Colonel Gray's Massachusetts Regiment,
and was in Spencer's Expedition to Rhode Island;
also served four months in 1777 in Colonel Hathaway's
Regiment.
He was commissioned, August 1, 1778, Captain
and served four months in Colonel Josiah Whitney's
Page 9

Massachusetts Regiment, and was in Sullivan's
Expedition to Rhode Island; also served four
months in 1778 under Colonels Carpenter and
Greene, and was in an engagement on Cononnicut [handwritten checkmark]
Island; in 1779 he served two months in Colonel
Gray's Regiment.  [handwritten] See [illegible] vol. 1 - P. 648 [end handwritten]
He was allowed pension on his application
executed July 13, 1832, while a resident of
Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island.
It is stated that after the war he was
Colonel of Militia.
There is no data on file as to family.

[handwritten text along left margin of page: Remainder of (illegible) letter -]
[handwritten text along left margin of page: (illegible) Samuel Taber. S 22003]
[illegible handwritten text beneath "S 22003"]
Page 10

Robert Earl [illegible]
Lieut
Page 11

Colony of the Massachusetts Bay.  The Major Part of the COUNCIL of the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England,

To, [handwritten] Robert Earl, Gentleman [end handwritten] Greeting,
YOU being appointed [handwritten] Second Lieutenant of the Seventh Company whereof William
Hix is Captain, in the second Regiment of militia in the County of Bristol whereof
Edward Pope Esq. is Colonel. [end handwritten]
By Virtue of the Power vested in us, WE do by these Presents, (reposing special Trust and
Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct,) Commission you accordingly. - You are
therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a [handwritten] Second Lieut. [end handwritten] in leading, ordering,
and exercising said [handwritten] Company [end handwritten] in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in
good Order and Discipline: - And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their  [handwritten] Second Lieut. [end handwritten]
and you are yourself, to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to
Time receive from [handwritten] the Major part of the Council, or your Superior Officers [end handwritten]

GIVEN under our Hands and the Seal of the said Colony, at [handwritten] Watertown [end handwritten] the
[handwritten] Twenty sixth [end handwritten] Day of [handwritten] April [end handwritten] [crossed out printed text]
[crossed out printed text] [handwritten] In the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy six. - [end handwritten]
By the Command of the
Major Part of the Council
[handwritten signature] Perez Morros J DSecr.  [faint circular image to the right, no legible text]

[handwritten] Bristol ss May 16th 1776. -
Then personally appeared the above name
Robert Earl & took the Oath by Law
required to the office above mentioned
Edw. Pope

[Left margin of page contains a column of the following handwritten signatures]

James Otis
B Greenleaf
W. Spooner
Winthrop
B Chadbourn
T Cushing
John Whitcomb
Jedh. Foster
James Prescott
Eldad Taylor
Michael Farley
S Holten
J. Palmer
Jabez Fisher
B White

[handwritten numbers]
1822
1776
40    64
        46
Page 12

[upside-down handwritten text in upper right corner: EARL, ROBERT (MASS) S. 21172]


Cap Robert Earls
Commission.
[illegible]
Page 13

State of Massachusetts Bay
To Capn. Robert Earl
Gentleman, Greeting

By Virtue of the Power to me granted by the Honbl.
Council of this State in their Resolution of 27 July last I
do preposing special trust & Confidence in your Loyalty Courage
& good Conduct hereby appoint you the said Earl to be
Captain of a Company in a Regiment whereof Josiah
Whitney is Colonel, a list of whose Names are herewith
deliverd to you, & you are forthwith to march said Company
to Tiverton, in the State of Rhode Island, & join your Regiment,
and to give Obedience to all such Orders as you shall
from time to time receive from your Superior Officers.
Given under my Hand in Newbury Port,
this first day of August AD 1778
Jona. Titcomb B G.

1778
1757
    21
Page 14

21172
INVALID.

1926 Dec 2 - Hist to Mrs. Bentley
W. Morse - See letter in
Samuel Taber S22003 [illegible].

File No. 21172
Act:
Index: - Vol. [illegible], Page 11
[Arrangement of 1870.]