Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 37,698, Primus Babcock, R I
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Service: RI

Babcock, Primus
or Prime

Number:
S37.698

RI Wt. 2974 - issued 1789
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wt. 2974

Prime Babcock
Claim for [illegible]

vid. Records of Land [illegible] Rhode Island head.
no. 2974  21st Dec. 1789

100 [illegible]

Discharge retained to prevent its defrauding those who purchase such evidences of Claim.
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803
Connecticut

Primus Babcock RI
Capt. Sherman
Private
Connecticut line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 21st of March 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd of June 1818 and sent to the Pensioner care of Calvin Goddard Rev. Judge of Norwich, Connecticut.

Arrearages to [illegible] 1818. $43.90
5 Mo. 15 days $43.90

Revolutionary claims,
Act 18th March, 1818,
Rhode Island line
From Feb. 81 till Dec. 83
From [illegible] till close of War Continued
[illegible]

Connecticut under law 1st May 1820, and Notification sent to Calvin Goddard Esq. Norwich, Connt. 29th July 1820

Date of death not [illegible]
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[rotate page]
Primus Babcock
Sherman's Co.
Olney's Regt
Connecticut Line
[illegible] this with
April 14, [illegible]
[initials?]

Not to be found on the roll

Hon. Secretary of the Department of War
Not on Rolls

Rhode Island Line
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To Calvin Goddard Esq one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut 
The petition of Primus Babcock of Preston in the County of New London & State aforesaid sheweth
That he resides in the Town & State aforesaid -- that he served more than nine months in the war of ^the revolution upon the continental establishment as a soldier. – that -- he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in need of assistance from his Country for support -- that he never has received or been allowed any pension by the laws of the United States or any individual State & hereby relinquishes all claim to any such allowance except by virtue of the Act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in States the land and naval services of the United in the revolutionary war" to a pension under which he is desirous of substantiating his claim & prays that the same may be done according to the provision of said Act. Dated at Norwich this 21st day of March AD. 1818- 
Primus Babcock his mark X
State of Connecticut
New London Ss 
Be it remembered that on this twenty first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & eighteen before me Calvin Goddard one of the Judges Superiour Court in the State of Connecticut personally came Primus Babcock of the Town of Preston in the County of New London & State aforesaid to me personally known & made solemn oath to the truth of the following declaration & affidavit by him subscribed viz that he is a resident citizen of the United States that he served as a private in the war of the revolution
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That he entered that Service Some Time in the year AD 1777 & continued constantly therein until he was honourably discharged therefrom at the close of the war and in the year 1783 that he belonged to the black Regiment so called under the command of Col Green & after his death of Majr Olney in a company commanded by Capt Sherman that he constantly served during the period aforesaid & received an honourable discharge Signed by Genl Washington which discharge he kept untill a few years ago he caused the same to be first to the Hon. Lyman Law then a member of Congress for the purpose of obtaining the land to which he supposed he was entitled but which he was informed had been granted in his name & the discharge was retained in the office of the Secretary of the War Department as he has been informed & verily believes & further saith not - Dated the day & year aforesaid - I hereby further declare that I have never received any pension under any law of the United States & do hereby relinquish all title to any excepting that now applied for 
Primus Babcock his name X
Sworn before Calvin Goddard a Judge of Supr Court
I certify that I have often seen & at the request of the above Applicant transmitted his discharge to Lyman Law Esqr late member of Congress who informed that it was retained in the War offices 
C. Goddard
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To the Hon’ble Secretary for the Department of War.
It appearing to my satisfaction that the applicant aforesaid served in the war of the revolution upon the continental establishment more than nine months ^against the common Enemy, I hereby certify the same to the end that he may obtain a pension according to the provisions of the act of Congress above refered to. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year aforesaid 
Calvin Goddard a Judge of Supr Court
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Primus Babcock
808 or 803
of Groton

June 18

@
Page 9

State and District of Connecticut, ss. 
On this 29th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court holden at within and for the County of New London in said State, on the 29 day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Primus Babcock aged seventy nine years, resident in the town of Groton in said State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he serin the revolutionary war as follows: [crossed out: That the said] as a private soldier in [crossed out: enlisted for the term of on the day of in the year in in the State of] in the company commanded by Captain Lewis & afterward ^by Capt Brown in the ^ Black regiment commanded by Colonel Olney in the line of the State of Rhode Island [crossed out: on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said corps until when he was discharged from the said service in in the state of] That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, [crossed out: as nearly as he can recollect, having no minutes,] on the 21st day of March 1818; and had transmitted to him a certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War, No. 808
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner 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 1840 the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War;” ^passed on the 18th March 1818, and 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. 
[crossed out: That I am by occupation a]
Three old chairs,34 -  table, 30 – [illegible], 50 [illegible], 34 - 6 tea cups, 25 = $1.93 
Primers Babcock his Mark X
Signed Sworn to and declared on the 29th day of June 1820 before a County Court Charles Lathrop Clerk I, Charles Lathrop Clerk of the County Court for New London County, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is One dollars and ninety three cents. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 29th day of June 1820
Charles Lathrop
Clerk of the County Court for the County of New-London.
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37698
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 37,698
Primus Babcock
Pri Rev War

Act: 18th March 18

Index:- Vol. 2, Page 29

[Arrangement of 1870]
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Mr. Fermer will pass this claim in the within evidence & explanation.
GB
June1: 1818

Admitted     [Illegible round stamp]

I. F. G.

George Boyd Esq
Pension Office
Washington
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Norwich Con: May 26, 1818. 
George Boyd Esq,
Sir, Having said Primus Babcocks claim for a pension returned for further proof. I take the liberty to remark that a few years ago I had in my hands his certificate of discharge from the service at the close of the revolutionary was Signed George Washington which, at his request I transmited to Lyman Law Esq. then a member of Congress from this State, for the purpose of ascertaining of the land to which Primus was entitled to had ever been located, he being a black man & ignorant of his rights-- Mr Law applied at the War Office & found that the land had been granted in the name of Primus Babcock, but his discharge which Mr. Law had transmitted to the office for examination was retained there - Some person had probably defrauded him of his land - He was the first applicant to me to make out his case for a pension & having ^reported the evidence in possession of the War Office, I had supposed that evidence would have been satisfactory -- The facts which I have stated can be certified on oath by Mr. Law & myself if necessary but having some reason to suppose from an endorsement on the papers that the books of Connecticut line, have searched and not Rhode Island to which Col Olney’s Regiment belonged. I have taken the liberty to return the papers requesting that you will have the goodness to cause the papers in office who examined where I have no doubt it will become that [crossed out: illegible] this applicant has had land granted to him & his discharge which I have no doubt was genuine, will be found
Im very respectfully your Ob’t Sev’t
Calvin Goddard
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Prime Babcock's Letter of Attorney Affidavit &c for Land Warrant
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Know all men by these presents. 
That I Prime Babcock of Norwich in New London County in the State of Connecticut do make, constitute, and anoint the Honorable Lyman Law of New London in said State, my true and lawful attorney to ask demand, and receive of any of the officers of the United States government such land warrant as is or may be issued to me by reason of my having served as a soldier in the Army of the United States during the revolutionary war and having been therefrom honorably discharged; and to cause the same to be located in such manner as he shall think best.  hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney may do in the premises, in virtue hereof.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this 30th day of October A.D. 1815. 
Prime Babcock his mark X
In presence of us 
Chas B. Goddard 
Calvin Goddard 
New London County Ss Norwich Oct. 1815.} Personally appeared, Prime Babcock above named, and acknowledged the above letter of Attorney to be his free act before me 
Calvin Goddard a Judge of the Supr Court
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I Prime Babcock of Norwich in New London County State of Connecticut do solemnly swear that I am the same person known and called Prime Babcock in a certificate of discharge from the Army of the United States during the war of the Revolution which discharge is dated June 15th 1783 and signed "G. Washington” and accompanying this affidavit, that I did serve during the period therein mentioned and that said discharge has ever since remained in my possession; and that I have not received the land to which I was entitled for the service aforesaid. Dated at Norwich this 30th day of October A.D. 1815.
Prime Babcock his mark +
We, Humphrey Thompson and Prince Champlin do solemnly swear that we are well acquainted with Prime Babcock above mentioned, that we knew him to be a soldier during the Revolutionary war: that we have always understood that he was honourably discharged therefrom; and for many years have known him to be in possession of his discharge signed by General Washington which he now produces
Humphrey Thompson his mark X
Prince Champlin his mark X
New London County Ss
Norwich Oct 30. 1818.} Personally appeared before me the foregoing Prime Babcock. Prince Champlin & Humphrey Thompson and made oath to the foregoing affidavits to which their signatures were affixed in my presence. And I do certify that the aforesaid Prime Babcock has occasionally labored for me for several years past, that he has frequently mentioned events of the revolutionary war in such manner that I have no doubt of his having served therein. And that the said Prince Champlin & Humphrey Thompson are credible persons- 
Sworn before & certified by 
Calvin Goddard one of the Judges of the Sup’r
Court State of Connecticut
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Prime Babcock
Discharge

Wt Issued  1789.