Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11648, Oliver Watson, R.I.
Page 1

10481
Rhode Island 
==========
Oliver Watson
of Washington in the State of R. Island
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Cole of the Reg.t commanded
by Col Dyer in the R. Island
line for 20 months & 15 days
============
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 68 ~ Dollars 34 ~ Cents per annum,
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10481
Rhode Island 
=========
Oliver Watson
of Washington in the State of R. Island
who was  Private in the Company commanded 
by Captain Cole of the Reg.t commanded
by Col Loyer in the R. Island 
line for 20 months & 15 days
==============
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island 
at the rate of 68 ~ Dollars 34 ~Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=================
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of April
1833 and sent [illegible]
Updike Kingsten R.I.
=============
Arrears to the 4th of March. 1833 $136.68
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept 4 “ 34.17
                                                             ======
                                                            $170.85
                                                            ======
{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk,
Book A  Vol. 2.d  Page 135
Page 3

N.o 12559
Oliver Watson
Private 20 mos & 15 days
adn.d
4.5 & 6 ob
Jany 18 1833

W. Updike Esq
Kingston
R I  P. 206

[the following lines have been crossed out]
Hon D J Pearce
HR
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Oliver Watson of the County
of Washington in the State of R. Island
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 72 years.

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
   In 1776
   “
   “
   “ 78 Augt
   “ 80
Duration of Service.
Years,   Months,   Days.
   Substitute 3 [months] for Benjamin Watson
   “ 4 [months] “ Caleb Watson
   1” [month] 15 [days] Drafted
   —-  2 [months] —-
   —-  4 [months] —-
   —-  2 [months] —-
   —-  2  [months] 
   —-  1 [month] 
   —- 1 [month]
————————————-
            20 [months] 15 [days]
Rank.
   [substitute]
   [substitute]
   Drafted
   d.o [ditto]
   d.o
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
   Gen.
   Capt. Taylor, L.t Cole
   same
   same
   Col Loyer, Capt Cole
   Capt. Pearce   

5. In what battles was he engaged? none

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Kingston

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Deposition

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
    no Clergyman’s Certificate

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

Devin Belt [signature]
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

Washington Fc — In South Kingston —
February 9th 1833 —
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned,
a Justice of the Peace, for the Town of South
Kingston, in the County of Washington. Oliver
Watson of South Kingston, in said County, an
Applicant for a Pension, who being duly
sworn deposeth and saith, that by reason of old Age,
and the consequent lofs of Memory, he cannot
swear positively, as to the precise length of his
services, that according to the best of his recollections,
he served not lefs than the periods mentioned
below & in the following [illegible] — In 1776 I served in
a Company of Militia belonging in South Kingston, of
which William Taylor was Captain, as a private,
three months, one month of the time in his own account,
and two months as a substitute for his Father and his
Uncle Caleb Watson as stated in his Declaration,
In 1777 I served as a private in said company, and under
the same Officers Four months for myself & in the same
year. I served one Month & fifteen Days as a substitute,
for one Augustus Morley, and two months as a
substitute for one William Mandy, in a company
belonging to the Town of Exeter Jonathan Bates was
Captain of said Company. In 1778 I served in the 
Company to which I belonged in North Kingston, of which
John Cole was Captain, in the place of Captain Taylor,
three months for myself, one Month as a substitute for 
Ephraim Hayard, & two months as a substitute for my
Father. In 1779 I served in the same Company,
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whose [illegible], two months as a private, for myself, and
one Month as a substitute for Zebulon Gendines. In 1780 I
served one Month in said Company, of which Lemuel Peirce
was the Captain, and for this same I claim a Pension.
I am not acquainted with any Clergyman in my vicinity,
who can testify as to their belief in my Age, or to the
belief in my neighborhood, of my revolutionary service, and
committed to make an excuse for not knowing a
Clergyman, to testify respecting the same in my Application
by mistake, but not permitted by Court, before whom
the Application was made, to offer the testimony of
Matthew Waite & Jonathan Reynolds as to those facts, whose
testimony are annexed to my Application, and were approved
of by the Court — Charles Dyer was Colonel of the Regiment,
to which the Company belonged, in which I send all the time —
Oliver Watson [signature]

State of Rhode Island &c —
Washington fc — In South Kingston
February 9th 1833 —
Then appeared before me, the above subscribed
Oliver Watson, and after being by me duly examined,
cautioned and sworn, to tell the whole truth & nothing
but the truth, made oath to the annexed supplemental
Affidavit, which was reduced to writing in his presence and by
him subscribed in my presence, And I further certify that the
said Oliver Watson is well known to me, and that his
character for truth & veracity is good, and that said
affidavit is entitled to full& implicit credit —
Wilkins Updike [signature] Just. Peace
Page 7

DECLARATION.
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ACT OF CONGRESS, PASSED JUNE 7, 1832.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND,
COUNTY OF Washington } fc
On this Fifteen day of September 1879 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges
or Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Oliver Watson
a resident of South Kingston in the county of Washington and State of Rhode Island,
aged 72 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.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as here
in stated — In 1776 he belonged to a Company of Militia in North
Kingston where he enlisted of which Wm Taylor was Captain, John Cole
Leit & Sylvester Sneet [illegible], after the Enemy took posefsion
of Newport, part of the company was drafted, of which his Father,
Benjamin Watson was one, and he went in his room, and performed one
month duty for him in said Company, the Company was stationed at
the North Ferry, or English vessel of [illegible] bay of the shore all the
time, it was same the time of his Uncle Caleb Watson, and he 
added another month for him, at the same place, then it came for his
turn and he served another month, He served nearly the whole of
the year afterward on the shores in that vicinity, for himself and about 
[illegible] for others, whose names he cannot specify. In August
1778, he and the rest of his company, was out with General Sullivan,
in his expedition, he was part of that time, employed as a boatman,
and part of the time as the ranks. After that he continued to do duty on the
shores at various places, untill the Enemy left Newport, for
himself and as a substitute for others. Charles Dyer was Colonel
of the Regiment & John Cole Captain of the Company, toward the 
end of his services. In 1780 as he thinks, the Regiment, was
arrived as to Rhode Island by the way of Bristol, and continued at
Butts Hill fort, and detained about a Month, and then difsmifsed,
Samuel Peirce was Captain then. He was born in North Kingston,
has no record of his age. He has lived in South Kingston, for the
last thirty years. Oliver served under any Continental Officers, never
[illegible] any Continental Officers. David Greene and Polepos Austin
are now living, and will testify to his having served, and [illegible] and [illegible]
were with him. He does not know of any Clergyman who can testify
Page 8

to his reputation, or to the report of his being a soldier. But
refers the Court to Matthew Waite & Jonathan Reynolds —
who are acquainted with him [“he thinks that” is crossed out”] he actually served 
as he is fully satisfied eighteen months in the whole.

   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.   
Oliver Watson [signature]
Wilm’ Sam~ Helme Clk [signature]

   We, Jonathan Reynolds — residing in the Town of South Kingston
and Matthew Waite of South Kingston [“residing in (the same)” is crossed out] hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with Oliver Watson — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we
believe him to be 74 — years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood 
where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid.
Matthew Waite [signature]
Jon Reynolds [signature]
Wilm’ Sam.~ Helme Cl’k [signature]

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 Revolutionary Soldier, and
served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that — who has signed the preceding certificate, is a — resident in —
the — and that Matthew Waite & Jon Reynolds who has
also signed the same is a resident in the — and [“is a” is crossed out] credible person [“s” is added] and
that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas & Gen. Sefsions of the Peace
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application
of Oliver Watson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
this Eighth day of September 1832
Sam.~ Helme Cl’k [signature]
Page 9

     This Bureau can furnish the military 
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.
     Such of the original muster and pay
rolls of the Revolutionary War and the 
War of 1812 as are now in the possession
of the Government are on file in the 
Record and Pension Office, War Department.
Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolutionary
War may also be found on file in the 
archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,

L. W. B.
I. 11648.

December 13th, 1899.

Sir:-
     In response to your recent communication you are advised that 
Oliver Watson made an application for pension on September 8th, 1833,
at which time he was 72 years of age and residing in South Kingston,
Rhode Island, and his pension was allowed for twenty months and fifteen
days’ actual service as a private in the Rhode Island troops, Revolutionary
war.  He enlisted at North Kingston, Rhode Island, and served
under Capt. Cole and Col. Dyer. 
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mr. E. L. Randolph,
     Kingston, Rhode Island.
Page 10

Deposition of 
Pearce Austin in
application of 
Oliver Watson —
Page 11

The Deposition of Pearce Austin of North Kingstown
in the County of Washington State of 
Rhode Island of lawful age Testifies &
says on oath.
     That I am well acquainted with Oliver
Watson of South Kingstown Washington County
now an applicant for a pension. That said Oliver
Watson was a soldier in the company of Lawrence
Pearce Capt: and in [“said” is crossed out] the year 1780 the said Oliver
as a private in said Company was marched
from Weekford to Bristol & from Bristol we were
March on to Rhode Island & the Fort at Butt’s 
Hill & said Oliver was in said Company and
the regiment to which & said company was attached
was commanded by Col. Charles Dyer - said Company
then evacuated about one month & an half
and that said Oliver Watson & myself was in one 
 mefs and we were then discharged & said Oliver
and myself returned through Newport home
Witness W Updike
his
Pearce + Austin
mark
Page 12

Rhode Island }
Washington County }. South Kingstown Sep: 4th 1832
Personally appeared the within named Pearce
Austin and before deposing as aforesaid was by me
carefully cautioned examined & sworn to testify to the
truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth
said deposition taken & reduced to writing to by me
in his presence & read to him & he declared the
same to be true
Before me W Updike [signature] J. Peace
Page 13

The Deposition of Polepos Austin of North Kingstown
in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island 
aged 81 years on oath testifies & says that he always
was acquainted with Oliver Watson now an applicant for a
Pension. That in 1776 I saw the said Oliver Watson and he
was then a private in Capt. William Sayler’s Company
doing duty on the shores of Boston Neck in North & South Kingstown
R Island, and on that tour served one month or more.
In 1777 he also served as a private in the Company
commanded by Capt. John Cole doing duty in
guarding the shores against the Enemy, he served three
months under Capt. Cole in the whole three terms as near
as I can recollect, I served with him & knew that he served
In 1780 I saw said Watson at Butts Hill on R I and
digging & building the Fort there the company to which he
belonged was commanded by Capt Lawrence Pearce
and attached to the regiment commanded by Col. Charles Dyer
at the time he served about one month as a private in
said Pearces Company
I have always understood & believed & never heard it
contradicted that said Watson served in the Revolutionary War — as
a private and did duty as a soldier and at the time than
I have mentioned — The times I have mentioned I was with him
Polepos Austin [signature]
Page 14

Rhode Island }
Washington County } fe S Kingstown Sept 4th 1832
Personally appeared the within named Polepos 
Austin and before deposing as aforesaid was by me carefully
cautioned examined & sworn to testify the truth, the
whole truth & nothing but the truth — and testimony
was reduced to writing by me in his presence read
to him & he declared the same to be true
Before me W. Updike J. Peace [signature]
Page 15

The Deposition of David Greene of North Kingstown in the 
County of Washington R. Island aged 72 years, on oath 
testifies & says That he has always been acquainted with Oliver
Watson now an applicant for a pension. That in the year 1777
I knew said Watson as a private in the company commanded
by Capt John Cole [illegible] in the State Service - he was stationed
at the North ferry and on the shores of North Kingstown to guard
the same against the enemy — the British ship of war Renour —
Lay off against said North ferry — he served that term about one
month — after that, in the same year he served another
term of one month under the same Capt. Lawrence
Pearce in guarding the same shores — 
In 1780 while Genl La Fayette was in Newport with
the French fleet saw Watson marched from Weekford then called
Updikes Newtown through Bristol onto
R Island and said Regiment was commanded by Col Charles
Dyer & was stationed at Butt’s Hill and said Watson was
there doing duty about one month —
In the year 1781, I saw said Watson on Newport doing
duty as a private in Capt. Lawrence Pearces Company
said company was under the command of Col: Dyer,
He said Watson then served one month and after that I saw
said Watson on duty at Newport again and how long he
served there I don’t know. 
David Greene [signature]
Page 16

Rhode Island }
Washington County } South Kingstown Sep: 4th 1832
Personally appeared the written named David 
Greene and before deposing the aforesaid was by me carefully
cautioned examined & sworn — to testify to the truth
the whole truth & nothing but the truth — said
Deposition was taken & reduced to writing by me 
in his presence & being read to him he declared the
same to be true
Before me Wilkins Updike J. Peace [signature]
Page 17

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, &c. }
Washington County, }  Sc. South Kingstown, Sept. 4th 1832.
Personally appeared the aforenamed Polepos Austin, Pearce
Austin & David Greene —
and before deposing as aforesaid, were by me, carefully cautioned, examined and 
sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and gave
the foregoing depositions, which were reduced to writing by me, in their presence
and they signed the same in my presence. And I further certify that the 
said deponents are well known to me and that they sustain a fair character for
truth, and that their depositions are entitled to credit.
Wilkins Updike [signature] Justice Peace.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, sc.
I Samuel Helme, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within 
and for the County of Washington, & state, aforesaid, do hereby
certify that Wilkins Updike, Esq. before whom the deposition annexed
were taken and sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace, duly
elected and qualified within and for the county of Washington,
in said state and that his signature thereto is in his own proper
hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said Court, this fifth day of September. in the 
year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and thirty two;
Sam Helme Clk [signature]
Page 18

Declaration of
Oliver Watson
Enfsd. 12.859
Page 19

[left page]
Dec 1899
E L Randolph
Kingston R. I.

[right page]
RevWar [handwritten]
11648 [handwritten]
INVALID.
——-
File No. 11,648
Oliver Watson
Priv. Rev. war
——-
Act: June 9th 1832
Index: — Vol. A, Page 393
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

Kingston, October, 12th
Pension Office
Can you tell me
if “Act of year 1832”. relates
to Revolutionary pensions, if
it does can Oliver Watson’s
name be found as receiving
pension from that date?
or anything relating to
him? He was born in 1760.
died July 31. 1839. married
Dorcas Watson — Oliver Watson
Page 21

was born in Rhode Island.
respectfully yours.
E.L. Randolph.
Kingston
Rhode Island