Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,047, Joseph Cornell, R.I.
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(3-1776)
Service                                                 Number
R.I. (Rhode Island)    Cornell, Joseph    S.40.047


CONTENTS
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(No. 1920)
Rhode Island

Joseph Cornell
Capt. Arnold
R.I. Consign

In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 20 dollars per month, to commence on the 4th of April 1818 - Rhode Island dins [somewhat illegible, appears to be dins]

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 July [somewhat illegible, appears to be July] 1818 - 
and
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R.I. Cornell, Joseph  S.40.047
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation
Newport ss
On the seventh day of April A 1818 before me the
[illegible] one of the justices of the Supreme judicial court of the 
aforesaid state personal[l]y appears Joseph Cornell aged fifty nine
years [illegible] in the town of Tiverton in said state who
being by me duly sworn according to saw doth on this oath
[illegible] the following declaration in order to obtain the
Provissions [provisions] made by the state act of
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common enemy and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Hon Secretary for the department of war pursuant to the directions of the before mentioned act of Congress William Anthony Just Supm Jud Court
State of Rhode Island Ss
I Gideon Palmer Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Newport in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation Do Certify that William Anthony Esq. whose signature is affixed to the papers hereunto annexed is third Justice of said Court and resides as such at the sittings thereof and that the signatures to the above and foregoing papers are his signature and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts and attestations done as aforesaid. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the Seal of said Court this 21st day of April AD 1878 
Gideon Palmer Clerk
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Joseph Cornell
Tiverton RI
1920
6th July 1818.
C
Mch 1818
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT. 
County of Newport U.S. Circuit Court June Term, A.D. 1820. 
On this 15th day of June 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for said District Joseph Cornell aged 62 years, residing in the town of Trenton in said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in Revolutionary War as follows: That he served as an officer in Col Greenes regiment upwards of two years of the R Island Line that he made a previous declaration on the 7th day of April 1818, and that he has received a certificate for a pension, being No. 1920 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 
Joseph Cornell 
SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of
Joseph Cornell Viz 7 Common chairs 1 Kettle 1 Bake Kettle some articles of crockery ware 1 wash tub 1 old sea chest. Other than the above I have no property except as above excepted. That he is a mariner but has not followed that business for the last ten years that he now owes about Twenty Dollars thus about the same sum due to him that he is not able to maintain himself without his pension that he has a wife & 2 children one Grandchild on him for support dependant
Joseph Cornell 
Sworn to and declared in open Court on the fifteenth day of June 1820 before Hon Joseph Slough [illegible] of US DC
Witness Benj Cowell Clk
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT. 
Clerk's Office of the US Circuit Court, A. D. 1820. I Benjamin Cowell Clerk of US. Circuit ^court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is not exceeding Thirty dollars and --- cents. In testimony where have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Twelfth day of July 1820
Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court
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November 18, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mr. Benjamin F.C. Boyd
Newport, R.F.D. #2
Rhode Island
Joseph Cornell, S.40047
BA-J/MCS
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for the records of Joseph Cornell and Nicholas Easton Gardner who served in the Revolution.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land and based upon the military service of participants in that war. A search of the Revolutionary War records fails to show such claim on file on account of the service of any Nicholas Easton Gardner or of a Nicholas Gardner (searched under all spellings of the name) as described by you.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 40047, based upon the military service of Joseph Cornell.
He enlisted November 11, 1775, in Rhode Island, exact place not stated, and served as private one year in Captain William Barton's company in Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island regiment and was in the battle of Long Island. He next served seven months as private in Cpatain Gideon Westcott's company in Colonel Robert Elliott's regiment of Rhode Island artillery. He was commissioned ensign on June 20, 1777, and served in Captian Thomas Arnold's, Silas Talbot's, Jonathan Wallen's and John S. Dexter's companies in Colonel Christopher Greene's Rhode Island regiment and was in the battles of Red Bank, Fort Miffin, Whitemarsh and Rhode Island and was discharged late in the summer of 1779. He then went to sea from Boston and was captured by the British frigate "Danae".
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He was allowed pension on his application executed April 7, 1818, while a resident of Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island, aged fifty-nine years.
In 1820 he referred to his wife, two children and one grandchild but did not give their names. The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.
Joseph Cornell died April 2, 1825.
As possible means of securing information in regard to Nicholas Easton Garner, it is suggested that you address the Adjutant General, Ware Department, this city, or consult the archives in the Old Records Division of the Navy Department, Washington D.C.
Very truly yours,
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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COPIED FROM MMHF 
February 29, 1932
BA-J/ MLB
Mrs. Frederick G. Sims 
76 Elmwood Road 
New Haven, Connecticut 
Dear Madam: Reference is made to your letter of recent date, relative to Joseph Cornell, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. 
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 40047, based upon the military service of Joseph Cornell in the Revolutionary War. 
Joseph Cornell enlisted November 11, 1775, in Rhode Island, exact place not stated, and served as a private one year in Captain William Barton's company, Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island regiment; was in the battle of Long Island, and after that he served seven months as a private in Captain Westcott's company, Colonel Robert Elliott's regiment of Rhode Island artillery. He was commissioned ensign June 20, 1777, and served in Captains Thomas Arnold's, Silas Talbot's, Jonathan Wallen's and John S. Dexter's companies, Colonel Christopher Greene's Rhode Island regiment; was in the battles of Red Bank, Fort Mifflin, Whitmarsh and Rhode Island, and was discharged late in the summer of 1779. After that, he went to sea from Boston and was captured by the British frigate, " Danae ". 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 7, 1818, while a resident of Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island, aged fifty-nine years. 
In 1820 he referred to his wife, two children and one grandchild, their names not stated. 
He died April 2, 1825.  
  [illegible ] Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
December 19, 1923
Mrs. William S. Williams 
“Panther Creek" R. F. D. # 1 
Lewisville, N. C. 
Madam: I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 40047 it appears that Joseph Cornell enlisted in Rhode Island, the place not stated, on November 11, 1775 and served as a private one year in Captain William Barton's Company, Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island Regiment; was in the battle of Long Island, and after that he served seven months as a private in Captain Westcott's Company , Colonel Robert Elliott's Regiment of Rhode Island Artillery. 
He was commissioned Ensign June 30, 1777 and served in Captains Thomas Arnold, Silas Talbot, Jonathan Wallen and John S. Dexter's Companies, Colonel Christopher Greene's Rhode Island Regiment; was in the battles of Red Bank, Fort Mifflin, Whitmarsh and
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Rhode Island, and was discharged late in the Summer of 1779. 
After that he went to sea from Boston and was captured by the British Frigate Danae" 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 7, 1818 while a resident of Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island aged fifty-nine years. 
In 1820 he referred to his wife, two children and one grandchild, their names not stated. He died April 2, 1825. 
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

I did not use his first named battle, as it was impossible to make out what it was
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section 
December 19, 1923

Mrs. William S. Williams 
"Panther Creek" R.F.D.1 
Lewisville, No. Carolina 
Madam: I have to advise you that in order to make a proper search of the records for any particular soldier named Eathforth, or any other named Cornell in the War of Revolution or 1812 some of the following data is essential: Full name of soldier, approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence before and after service and the given name of widow. 
Respectfully 
Acting Commissioner.
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In reply to your request of [null], received [null] statement of the military history of Joseph Cornell soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [crossed out: (or his widow)] application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
S. File 40,047
[column headers]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE. 
Nov 11 1775 | 1 year. 7 mos. | [null] | William Barton [crossed out: Gideon Wescott] ^Asa Hertman | William Richmond | R.I. |
June 20, 1777| served until last of summer 1779 | Ensign | Thomas Arnold, Silas Talbot, Jonathan Wallen, John Dexter | Christopher Greene | [null]
Also went to sea from Boston, and was captured by the British Frigate “Danae” at which time his commission & discharge were confiscated
Battles engaged in, Providence?  Long Island, Red Bank, H. Mifflin, Whitemarch for R.I.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [check mark] Enlisted in Rhode Is.
Date of application for pension, Apl 7. 1818 Alld – [check mark]
Residence at date of application, Tiverton, R.I. [check mark]
Age at date of application, 59 years. [check mark]
Remarks: In 1820 he referred to his wife, two children & one grandchild but did not state their names He d. Apl. 2, 1825 (Agency book). no reference to parentage. 
July, Wetcott Capt Elliott Arty

Very respectfully, Commissioner.
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Veterans Administration Washington D.C.
Gentlemen
Will you please give me the military and Revolutionary history war record of the following named persons.
Joseph Cornell, enlisted at Riverton R.I.
Please give date of birth and death. Name of wife also of children. Name of officers he fought under and principal battles he was in. Was he captured by the British?
Nicholas Easton Garnder
Born July 23, 1755. Married June 9, 1785
Died March 2, 1808
His wife, Unice Bright, born July 2, 1760
Died March 2, 1798
I am enclosing a state record of each
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of these men from the state records
commissioner, state house Providence
R.I. which may help you,
Is there any other department at 
Washington that might have some
information about these men that
you have not got.

Respectfully
Benjamin F.C. Boyd
R.F.D#2 Newport
R.I.

P.S. family documents seem to indicate
that Nicholas Easton Gardner served as
a lieutenant under Paul Jones
also that he once commanded the U.S.
war vessel Alliance.
I am enclosing a letter that seems to 
show that the official letter from the
secretary of the Navy to Nicholas Easton 
Gardner appointing him to command 
the Alliance was lost, to widow received
no pension.  I mention this because it
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may require deeper investigation to find
out what his true status was.
The pension means nothing to me.

I also enclose two postal cards relating to
this matter from George L Gardner.
Nicholas Easton Gardner was his Grandfather.

I am in my 73 year so it makes little 
difference to me about the history of these 
men to know. so I am doing what 
I can to straighten the record of these
men out. they were both my Great-
Grandfathers.

Please return the postal cards and
letters.

Thanking you for your conc[s]ideration 
I remain respectfully
Benj F.C. Boyd
Former member of R. I. Legislature
R.H.D. #2 Newport
R.I.
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I am ^enclosing another letter which I have marked with
a cross at the top. which showes [shows]
that Nicholas Easton Gardner was
distictly a sea faring man having
sailed out of Boston to Calcutta and
carried the first american flagg [flag] ever
seen there.

Benjamin F. C. Boyd
R.F.D. #2 Newport
R.I.
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Feb. 5, 1932.

Commissioner of Bureau of Pensions, 
Department of Interior,
Washington, 
D.C.

Sir:-Will you please furnish me transcript
of the military Record in the Revolutionary War
of Ensign Joseph Cornell who was my great - great
grandfather.

Residence at the date of his application was
Tiverton and Portsmouth R.I.

I have a reference
Sur. File 40047 dated April 11 1912
which may assist in locating the information de-
sired. 

Thanking you in advance I am
Mrs. Frederick G. Sim,
76 Elmwood Road,
New Haven, Conn.
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[ink stamp]
DEPT OF THE INTERIOR
RECEIVED 
NOV 7 – 1923
TO BUR. PENSIONS
[bottom line of stamp illegible]

[top right]
“Panther Creek”
Nov. 6, 1923

[under stamp]
Dept of the Interior 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sirs: - 
Will you kindly send me “War record” or what Data you have concerning Capt. Joseph Connell of the Revolutionary War - ?
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who was a native of Portsmouth R.I.
also - do you have any “Eathforth” in the Revolution, think they came from New Bedford some where in the New England States? or in the war of 1812? = any Cornell in the war of 1812 - Thanking you in advance for any information-- I am Sincerely Mrs. Wm Smith Williams
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Full names of soldiers enc. see carbon copy of reply.
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Mrs. Wm Smith Williams 
“Panther Creek" 
R.F. D Nox, Lewisville N.C.
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Melville Station 
Newport R. I. 
April 1912
Pention [sic] bureau
 Washington D C 
Gentlemen [noted] S40047
Can you give me any information in regard to Joseph Cornell of Portsmouth of Tiverton R.I. who served as a Captain or ensign in the revolution. I have every reason to believe that he was my great Grandfather, and I have some of his pention papers. I particulaly would like to ^know what the names of his children were, also his parents names, in fact I would like all the information you can give me in regard to him. Thanking you for your attention. I am Respt 
Benj Franklin Cornell Boyd
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OFFICE OF 
State Record Commissioner. 
Providence, R.I. November 10th 1904
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
[stamped] [illegible] Nov 12 1904 [illegible]
Dear Sir:
Mrs Frank Waterman of Providence R.I., a descendant of Joseph Cornell desires a record of his service as soldier in the Revolutionary war, will you kindly send whatever is found to Mrs. Waterman care of State Record Commissioner Providence R.I. and oblige 
Yours truly, 
R. Hammett Tilley 
State Record Commissioner.
M. C.
[ink stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
NOV 11 1904
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[upper left corner :  _May?_  in pencil and underlined]
[upper right corner: ]  Cornell Farm Newport RI
Aug 21, 1905

M & Dear  [?]
Will you please give me a copy
of the application of Joseph Cornell - Ensign
Newport to [inserted] [RI] - placed in role July 28 1818
[Return on ?] Ap 7, 1821 [illegible] or April 8 1825
also any information you can about
him & greatly oiblige
Yours Respectfully
(Rev) John Cornell
[inked round stamp at bottom right]  
PENSION
      A
    Aug
U.  23    S.
   1905
OFFICE.
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[left side]
40.047 
INVALID.
Revy 
File No. 45.047 
Joseph Cornell 
Ensign Rev War
Act: 18th March 18
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 94 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 

[right side]
Nov. 26, 1904 Hist to Mrs. Frank Waterman Providence R.I. 
Sept. 6. 1905 History to Rev. John Cornell Newport, R.I. 
1912 Apl. 11. Hist to Benj. F. C. Boyd. & 
1923 - Dec 19 - Hist to Mrs. Wm S Williams MMH
1932 - Mar. 1 Hist to Mrs. Frederick G. Sims MLB
1933. Nov. 18 Hist to Benj. F. C. Boyd M.C.S
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Tiverton April the 6th 1818
We the Subscribers & Members of the town Council of the town of Tiverton do Certify that Joseph Cornell is poor & Indigent and not verrey [very] able to work & is deserving the Bounty of his County made for Such officers & Soldiers by Congress in March 1818

W. Humphrey
Sion Allen
Allen Durfee
Abram Manchester
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Tiverton July the 6th AD 1818
We the subscribers & Members of the town
Council of the town of Tiverton in the County
of Newport & State of Rhodeisland & Provide...[torn edge]
Plantation do certify that Joseph Connel
is poor & Indigent and [caret] not [resume line] verrey able to
work & that he is deserving the Bounty of
his Country, made for such officers & Solders [sic]
[the word "made" crossed out in margin] by [caret] an act of [resume line] Congres in March A 1818 ~
[right margin] Wm Humphrey
Sion Allen
Allen Durfee
Abrm Manchester
Abner Simmons

[illegible] Tiverton in [illegible] County on this day of
July A.D. 1818 [squiggle]
Personally appeared the abovenamed William Humphrey, Sion
Alllen Allen Durfee Abraham Manchester and Abner Simmons
Members of the Town Council of Tiverton aforesaid, and made solemn
Oath to the Truth of the foregoing certificate by them subscribed - and
[illegible sentence]
[illegible] to be given [squiggle]
In Testimony whereof I [illegible]
[illegible] [squiggle] [illegible signature]
[right margin] Newport July 8 - 1818
We Robert Royers and John Pearce heretofore
Lieutenants in the Regiment commanded by Col.
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[right margin] Newport July 8 - 1818

We Robert Rogers and John Pearce heretofore
Lieutenants in the Regiment commanded by Col
Christopher Green in the revolutionary War do
hereby certify that Joseph Cornell served as an
Ensign in  ___?___ Regiment and was discharged
agreeably to his statement hereunto annexed
Robert Rogers
John Pearse

Newport [Is?] - at Newport this eighth Day of July
in the year 1818.
Personally appeared the abovenamed Robert
Rogers and John Pearce, both residing in Newport
aforesaid and made solemn oath to the truth
of the aforewritten Certificate by them respectively
subscribed and that full faith and credit is
due and ought to be given to their Attestations
in all places in Testimony where of I have 
hereunto let my hand the Day & Year above
written
[right margin] Daniel Denham Justice of
                        of the court of Common Pleas
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Newport [?]
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of the Court of Common Pleas
the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Newport

Henry Cranston Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport do hereby certify that Thomas Durfee Esq whos
Signature is affixed to the preceeding Certificates is Chief and Daniel Denham Esq. whose signature
is also affixed to the last preceeding certificate
is associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and Engaged under the Seal of said State.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my name and caused the seal
of this Court to be affixed, this Eighth
day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand Eight hundred and
Eighteen & of Independence the Fourth
third
Henry Cranston
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Tiverton April 15th 1818
I William Humphrey Capt in the Continental Rhode Island Regiment do hereby certify that Joseph Cornell was an Ensign in the Regiment
Commanded by Col Christopher Greene and Served as Ensign in said Regiment more than two years during the Revolutionary war
I can certify that Joseph Cornell Served as an officer in Col Christopher Greene Regiment but cannot tell the exact time
William Humphrey Capt
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We the Subscribers officers in the Rhode Island Continental Regiments do hereby certify that Joseph Cornell was an Ensign in the Regiment commanded by Col Christopher Greene and
served as an Ensign in said Regiment for more than two years during the revolutionary War
Newport April 1818-
Robert Rogers Lieutenant & acting Adjutant
in said Regiment
John Pearse Ltt in said Regiment.
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Tiverton April the 6th AD 1818
We are the Subscribers & Members of the town Council of the town of Tiverton do Certify that Joseph Cornell is poor & Indigent and not [illegible] able to work & is deserving the Bounty of his County made for such officers & soldiers by Congress in
March 1818
William Humphrey
Son Allen
Allen Durfee
Abram Manchester