Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,708, Thomas Brightman, Mass. R.I.
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass.
R.I.

Brightman, Thomas
Rebeckah

NUMBER
W.23, 708

CONTENTS
Page 2

332
Rhode Island
Rebeckah Brightman
of
Little Compton the State of R.I.
who was a
R.I.
in the
commanded
by Captain
of the
commanded
by
in the
widow of Thomas Brightman
dec late a Private in the Revo-
lution

Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island
at the rate of 30 - Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Decr
1836 and sent Hon D.
J. Pearce H of Repr's

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $165.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 37
15.00
$180.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D D Addison  Clerk
Book  A  Vol. 1  Page 97
Page 3

State of Rhode Island. ss.
On this eighteenth day of October AD. 1836. personally appeared before me,
Sylvester Gifford a Judge of the Court of Common Please, within and for the County
of Newport, in said State of Rhode-Island, Rebeckah Brightman now residing in
Little Compton in the County and State aforesaid, aged Eighty two years on the fifteen
day of May last, which she now well remembers, but no record can be found of her
age and belives there never was any, except one that she had in her family Bible
of her age Marrige & which was accidentally destroyed by one of her Children as
of or in other evidence of her appeared by the proof
annexed, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the
make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made
by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836. That she is the Widow of Thomas
Brightman, who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War. She well recollects that
that he belonged to Capt William Hicks Company of Militia and that Capt Hicks
called out his Company to draft men, and some time in January AD. 1777
and that it was previous to our Marriage, and the said Thomas Brightman was dead
and after he returned home, he told me he was marched to North Kingston in the State of
Rhode Island, all the officers that I recollect of that went with him was Robert Carl
of said Dartmouth who was their Lieutenant, I also recollect that he was absent
from home six months; and that in a few days after he returned home than
we were published, and in one or two weeks after he returned home that he was
drafted again, which was at the time of raising troops for General Spencer
Expedition to go on to Rhode Island, and that he was marched from home under
Capt Benjamin Willcox, and Robert Earl was the Lieutenant, and he was absent
from home one month, and told his return, that he was stationed most of the
month near Fallriver, which was some time in September AD 1777.
that he returned from that months tour, and soon after his return home
we were married, which I am will assured was on the fifth day of October 1777,
though I have no record of it as before stated, and none to be found on any public
Records, and we then resided in Dartmouth (now Westport) in the County of Bristol
---
---
and State of Massachusetts, and that eight days after we were married we
moved into Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island, and amediately after
we moved into said Little Compton he was enroled in Capt Ephraim
Simmonses Company of Militia, and called on to stand guard on the shore
of Little Compton, and commenced standing guard some time in the ┃
month of October AD. 1777. and continued to stand guard from the aforesaid
time of October AD. 1777 to the forepart of November AD. 1779. when ┃
the English troops left Rhode Island, the precise day I do not recollects
and recollect that he went on guard some afterwards but how much
I do not remember, she further declares that she was married to the said
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said Thomas Brightman on the fifth day of October AD. 1777 from the
best of her recollection though he has no record of it as before states, but
verily believes that it was on that day, and the proof of a Deposition
hereto annexed, that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Brightman
died on the eighteenth day of June AD 1832, and that she has remained
a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference
to the proof hereto annexed - Witness Sylvester Gifford
Rebekah Brightman
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
And I certify that the aforesaid John Wightman is well known to me and
that from her advanced age, and bodyly infirmities she is unable to attend personally
before any Court, which is the name of her making her Declaration before a Judge
and that her Declaration is worthy of full credit
Sylvester Gifford
Judge of the Court of Common Please
for the County of Newport -
-
Page 5

State of Rhode-Island ss.
On this fifth day of November AD. 1836. I Sylvester Gifford
a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County
of Newport in said State of Rhode Island, was personally before
Rebeckah Brightman Widow of the aforesaid Thomas Brightman, as
stated in her former Declaration to which this is a suppliment.
and in compliance with your letter of October 23th 1836, for a
perticular description of the Services of her late husband Thomas
Brightman in the Revolutionary War, who being first duly sworn 
according to Law, doth on her Oath make the following Declaration in addition to
her former one, that from my advanced age and loss of
memory
I am unable to state all the perticulars of said husbands
services, but from a more perticular recollection I am well assured
that my said husband served without any intermission at and near
North Kingston in the State of Rhode-Island Six months, and also near
Fall River one month, when he lived in Dartmouth, and after
we moved into Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island which 
was some time in the month of October AD 1777, that he was
emediately enroled and commenced standing guard in Capt Ephraim
Simmonses Company of Militia who continued to be his Capt during the
whole time of his services while the guard was kept there, the
other
officers I do not recollect, for the perticulars of Capt Ephraim
Simmonses service I refer you to the evidence in his case who
Pensioner for some years before he died, and a part if not the
whole of the time Capt Simmons Company was attached to Col
William Richmonds Regiment, as to his services on guard
on the shore of Little Compton to which you perticularly named
in your letter inclosed in the papers returned, it is [illegible] her
power now to say positively how long he served on guard, she
can well recollect that he commenced standing grand same time
1777 and that the Company that he belonged to wear
equall divided, and that one half of the
ing of one company stood one months and
the other half stood the next month, and so continued during the
whole time he was on guard, and each one hand to take their
regular tours on guard, or procure some one to stand for them,
of
She refers you to the Deposition of Francis Wilbour which is hereto
annexed be more perfect than her own recollection, she
well recollects that he stood all his monthly tours in guard, from
the aforesaid time of some time in the month of October 1777.
until the fore part of November 1779, and that he stood guard for
Page 7

Michal Gifford of Little Compton in the County of Newport
and State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say, that I am well
acquainted with Rebeckah Brightman the Widow of Thomas Brightman
and have been ever since I can remember, but more perticularly for the ┃
last four years, for I went to live with her about four years ago, it was a
few months after her husband Thomas Brightman died, and have lived
with her a great part of the time since, and never have been away from
here but a few weeks at any time during the said four years, she was
seldom able to go out of the house, and much of the time confined to her
---
bed, and during the whole time I have never known him to go but one
to any house, and then to a near neighbours which effected her very much.
and for some time past he has been much of her time confined to her
bed, and that she is now unable to be carried before any Court, or to
appear before any one that is out of her own house.
Michael Gifford
Newport Sc. Little Compton November 7th 1836
Personally appeared before me the above and
named Mathew Gifford and
made oath to the above Deposition by the Signed, and I further
testify and say, that the said Michal Gifford is well known
to me, and that she is a credible witness in the premisesby
me -
Sylvester Gifford
Judge of the Court of Common Please
for the County of Newport
Page 8

I Carmi Tripp of Westport, County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts,
on oath do testify and say, that I well remember the death of Thomas Brightman
the husband of Rebeckah Brightman, that I was present and assisted in laying him
out, and was at his funeral and see him buryed. and that the said Thomas Brightman
died on the eighteenth day of June, Eighteen hundred and thirty two, and that she ┃
now remains the said Thomas Widow
Carmi Tripp

Newport ss. 
Little Compton October 18th 1836
Personally appeared before me, the above named Carmi Tripp, and made oath to
the above Deposition by him signed, and I further testify and say, that
Carmi Tripp is well known to me, and that he is a man of truth
and is a credible witness in the premises-- by me-
Sylvester
Gifford Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Newport
Page 9

I Peace Taber of Tiverton, in the County of Newport, and State of Rhode
Island, on oath do testify and say, that I was intimately acquainted with Rebeckah
Brightman formerly the wife of Thomas Brightman, from my youth, before her
Marriage with said Thomas Brightman then residing in Dartmouth (now Westport
and have been ever since, and well recollect nearly what her age is by my own,
she being about four years older than Texas, and that the said Rebeckah was
Eighty two years old last Spring, and some time in the month of May, but this
precise day of the month I do not now recollect; and the said Rebeckah now
remains the said Thomas Brightmans Widow, and has ever since the said
Thomases decease
Witness Sylvester
Gifford
Peace (her X mark) Taber

Newport Sc. Little Compton
October 19th 1836
Personally appeared before me, the above named Peace
Taber,
Oath to the truth of the above Deposition by her signed, and I
testify and say, that the said Peace Taber is well known to me
that she is a credible witness in the premises - by me
Sylvester Gifford Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Newport
Page 10

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
- Thence Buhler W.F. 23708

DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
Jany 1777
1777
Oct 1777

LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
6 mos.
1 mo. 
served at various time until Nov. 8, 1779

RANK.
Pvt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
William Hicks
Benjamin Willcox
Ephraim Simmons
COLONEL.
Thomas Kempton
-
William Richmond

STATE.
Mass
R. I.

Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dartmouth Bristol Co Mass
Date of application for pension, Oct. 8 1836 Har cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Little Compton, Newport Co. R.I.
Age at date of application, She was May 15, 1754
Remarks: Soldier Married Oct. 1777 at Tiverton R.I.
Rebeckah Palmer and died June 18, 1832
Page 11

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
Rebeckah Brightman
Wid of
Thomas Brightman
Priv Rev War
Act June 7th 1832
A. Page 92
Index: Vol A, Page 92
][Arrangement of 1879.]

[Handwritten text to right]
1912 Mch. 12 Hist to
Mrs. Courtland P. Chissman
V.L.M.  Letter in S.F. 21657
Thomas Brightman
Page 12

R. Island
Rebeckah Brightman
Widow of Thomas
susp. 
See letter to Hom D.J. Pearce
11.Nov. 1836
[illegible]   Oct 12 '36
Page 13

Dear Sir
I returned the papers of R. Brightman having supplied  as I convince the [illegible] which you have dismissed --
your early [illegible]
Your Obed servt
Dutee J Pearce

J L Edwards Esqr
Commis. of Pensions
Newport Nov 8 1836
Page 14

Comm of Pensions
Hon D.J. Pearce
Newport
RI
Page 18

No 396
Rebeckah Brightman
Widow of 
Thomas Brightman

original case
aomd.
9 mo pri
30$
no deduction

Hon. D.J. Pearc

[text written sideways to the right]
at Newport on this twentieth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.