Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,048, Benjamin Wheaton, R.I.
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SERVICE                                                                    NUMBER
R. I.                           Wheaton, Benjamin                 S. 22048

______________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
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     27027
Rhode Island
__________________________________________________
Benjamin Wheaton
of Providence in the State of R. Island
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Arnold of the Regt commanded
by ______in the R.I.
line for 6 mos & 15 days    Private
             2  "      Sergeant
             3  "      Masters mate Navy
____________________________________________________

Inscribed in the Roll of R. Island
at the rate of 54 Dollars 17 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
____________________________________________________

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of Dec.
   1833 and sent Hon T Burges House of Rep's.
____________________________________________________

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833              $135.42
Semi anl, allowance ending 4, Mar 34         27.09
                                                               __________
                                                                $162. 51
                                                                 __________
                                               {Revolutionary Claim} 
                                               { Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by    D.D. Addison   Clerk,
Book 8     Vol. 2     Page 136
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Benjamin Wheaton
F                      115


    22138
Page 4

                          United States of America
                                   Rhode Island District for
County of Providence 
On this 18th day of September 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 Benjamin Wheaton, a resident of Providence in the county of 
Providence in said 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 Sates
under the following officers and served as herein stated. 
That he was born in said Town of Providence in the 
year 1756 also has a record of his age recorded in the 
family bible, now in his possession, also was living in
said Providence when called into service, and 
has lived therein ever since the revolutionary War
and now lives therein.  And the applicant further
 states, that prior to the commencement of hostilities
 between this country and Great Britian feeling desirous of doing his duty as a soldier he enlisted as a private 
in a Company in said Providence called the Providence Grenadier Company Commanded by Jonathan Arnold. 
 Our Company being considered at all times as under
the command of the commanding officer of the
forces in this State were ordered to hold ourselves
in readiness at all times to march upon any 
emergency when our services were needed. Immedi-
ately after the battle of Lexington we were called
out and ordered to repair to Boston and join the
American forces.  We accordingly provisioned ourselves
for three days and marched toward there 
but it being feared that Rhode Island would be 
in immediate danger upon the extension of hostilities,
by the British we were ordered to return.  From
this time, our company very frequently called out in
cases of alarm which very often as the British kept
[illegible] vessels within the waters of the State for a
long time committing depredations upon the inhabitants.
In December 1776 our commanding officer Doct Jonathan
Arnold being made hospital director Captain Zephan-
iah Anderson took the command of our company.
In the winter of 1776 our company was called out
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long time committing depredation upon the inhabitants.
In December 1776 our commanding officer Doc Jonathan
Arnold being made hospital director Capt Zephan-
ia Anderson took the command of our company.
In the winter of 1776, our company was called out
to do duty for one month in Providence.  In the
Spring following we were ordered to Pawtuxet
for one month.  In the Summer of 1777 our company 
did duty as General guard for one month and
in the Summer of 1778 our company again  did duty
as General guard for one month all these
terms of service the applicant faithfully served
out and the applicant further states that in
the Spring of 1782 he believes in the month of April
he entered as masters mate on board the Ship
South Carolina a State named vessel of war
belonging to the State of South Carolina then
lying in Havana at which place he entered 
on board.  Other main officers were first Commodore
Gillian [Gillon] of S. C.  The Second, Captain Joiner of S. C.
First Lieutenant Mr. White of Salem, Second Lieutenant Wm Marsden of Massachusetts. Third, Wm Fitzgerald
 of Connecticut, Fourth-Mr Mourant of S.C.  Our 
crew consisted of French, Germans, Americans & c & e
Our expedition was formed consisting of our Ship
and several other American vessels, together with a
number of Spanish vessels of War for the purpose of taking the Island of New Providence.  The Govenor of Cuba accompanied us on this expedition.  On our arrival off the Island the place surrendered.  After landing the Spaniards and staying about there for some time we sailed for the United States and arrived some time in the Summer in Philadelphia where the applicant was discharged and returned to Providence.  Some time in the month of July 1782 In their Service [illegible] actually employed as much as three months

and in the aforesaid company of Grenadiers he was in actual service four months in monthly terms of service
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and arrived some time in the Summer in Philadelphia where the applicant was discharged and returned to Providence Some time in the month of July 1782.  In this Service [illegible]
actually employed as much as three months.

and in the aforesaid company of Grenadiers he was in actual service four months in monthly terms of service under a variety of times when as a member of said company he was called upon to do duty upon emergencies for small term to stand watch, go upon alarms, and guard prisoners, and the applicant further States that he never held any commission nor did he ever have excepting one from said ship South Carolina which he has hasn't any written discharge.  He has no documentary evidence whereby to prove his services nor does he now know of any person living who served with him excepting Simeon Ingraham who deposition is here annexed.

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.  [signature]   Benjamin Wheaton
                             Certify B Cowell Clk

 __________________ a Clergyman, residing in the ________________________residing in ___________hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with

We Samuel Thurber and Stephen Randall both residing in Providence in the State of Rhode Island, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Wheaton who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and also to have served on Board the Ship South Carolina during said war
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and we further certify that said Benjamin is a man
of truth and veracity and his statements fully entitled to credit

Oct 8th 1832          [signature]       Saml Thurber
                               [signature]  Stephen Randal
Sworn to in open Court                 
                           B Cowell  Clk

I Simeon Ingraham of Providence in the State of
Rhode Island re. aged 83 years and sworn according to law depose and say that I served in a company of Grenadiers in the revolutionary when commanded by Capt. Zephaniah Andrews. Said Company was stationed in Pawtuxet in this State for one month during which time Benjamin Wheaton of said Providence now an applicant for a pension for services rendered by him in Said War was with us.  Said months service was in the Spring of 1777. during the war this Company was in existence & I was absent from this State in Fenwick
in the State of Connecticut [inserted] 'for many months' and at this distant period of time I do not now recollect how much service was performed by me in their Company or at what times other than the aforegoing said Weaton was in actual service therein.  I have long known said Wheaton and believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and that his statements are entitled to full credit  
                 [signature]   Simeon Ingraham
Sept 18 1832
             Sworn to in open Court
                       B Cowell  Clk
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was in the Spring of 1777 during [several illegible words]
was in existence & I was absent from this State in Fenwick in the State of Connecticut [inserted] 'for many months' and at this distant period of time I do not now recollect how much service was performed by me in said Company or at what times other than the aforegoing said Wheaton was in actual service therein.  I have long known said Wheaton and believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and that his Statements are entitled to full Credit   [signature]  Simeon Ingraham

Sept 18 1832
               Sworn to in open court
                                          B. Cowell Clk

     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 Samuel Thurber, Stephen Randall [many words crossed out] and Simeon Ingraham who have testified for s. applicant are [several words crossed our] residents [two words crossed out] as they state and 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 proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Wheaton for a pension.

                   In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set  my hand and seal of office, this 27 day of December  [illegible] 1832
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22183
Benjamin Wheaton
     R. I.

Private                 6 mon 15 days
Sergt                       2  "
Master's Mate }    3  
  Navy  }               _________________
                             11 -  15 days

5  11_12.1606

July 16 1833

Letter 27 Dec 1833    Hon
  T Burgess

P 424
Hon T Burgess
     HP
 B. Cowell  [crossed out]

Providence
           RI
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BRIEF in the case of Benj Wheaton-
Co of Providence in the State of  R.I.
           (Act 7 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?   75

4.   State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Period.                 Duration of Service.            Rank.                 Names of General and Field Officers
                                                                                                              under whom he served.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                  Years,     Months,  Days,         As a                      Ge                                                              In 17- not stated                          4                        Private                  Capt Arnold
Winter 1776                                  1                           "                           "     Andrews
Summer 1777                               1                           "                           "         "
Summer 1778                               1                           "                           "         "
Spring 1782                           as much as 3m        Seaman              Ship South Carolina
he was called several times to perform military duty                              Capt Gillian [Gillon]

5.  In what battles was he engaged?   At the taking of the Island of New Providence while a seaman

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?   Providence R. I.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
     incidental evidence, or by the rolls?    One living witness- & 2 citizens as traditionary evidence--

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?   papers not 
    attached agreeable to the regulations

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

                                                                                                 Examining Clerk.
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22048

Revolution

INVALID.

File No. 22,048
Benjamin Wheaton
Pri  Rev  War

Act June 7" 32"
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 447


[Arrangement of 1870.]
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22183
 Benjamin Wheaton










B Cowell Esq
Providence
      R. I.
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these
      answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
                                                Benjamin Wheaton which require
      further proof or explanation.

    I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?    Yes

   II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?   Yes

  III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in county where he resides, is there any reason
        assigned for his not doing so?

  IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of war when he served?   No   [illegible]  term

   V.  *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
        served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine in what amount of pension
        he is entitled?    No

  VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served in conformity with the regulations?   No   

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
        June 7, 1832?   Yes

VIII.   Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

  IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?   Yes

    X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
          from any other seal?  Yes
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                                                                                       2

  XI.   Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
         their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolu-
          tionary service?   No       2 citizens and one living witness

XII.     If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-  
        ing it?  No

XIII.     If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
        living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.      If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
        or witnesses as to his service?
             If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
         certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?     Yes
             Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
        regulations direct?    Yes

 XV.     Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
            as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?     Yes

XVI.     Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?    No

XVII.    Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And;
          if not, which of them is not so answered?
      
  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                              EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V.    In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
           long he served he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
            "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A, B. who, being
           duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
           cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recol-
            lection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades;  for _____
             year____________months, and ________days, I served as a ___________________.   For ____________ months
             and __________days, I served as a _______________;  and for such service I claim a pension.
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                                                     3
      It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
    particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
    pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too in-
    definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.   Some persons who apply for pensions
    merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
    officer, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objection-
    able.   It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; that he was either
     in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not em-
     ployed in any civil pursuit
QUERE XIV,  Proof of Service.
        In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
      prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of-
      the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
      regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths
      must certify the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magis-
      strate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
        In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not                     written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the cer-
    tificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
    under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
    attached to the certificate.
       In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer has no public seal of
     office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
     certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 16

And now on this 27th day of November th 1833
Benjamin Wheaton maketh further oath
in addition & explanation of his dictation
made September 18th 1833 in Court viz
said Benjamin declares that when the battle
of Lexington took place in April 1775, he be-
longed to and was a private in Captain Jonathan
Arnold Company of Grenadiers, that he joined
it as stated in said declaration & that he
continued as a private [in it-crossed out] and as a Sergeant
in it until after Sullivans Expedition in August
1778.  From August 1777 to August 1778
he was a Sergeant & from April 1775
to August 1777 he was a private
and the said Benjamin further declares
that at this distant period of time he
cannot remember all the times & place 
that he was on duty in said Corps, It was
the duty of said Company always to be in
readiness to march whenever & wherever
called for & he was and after the British
took possession of Newport on duty be-
came very arduous in guarding the homes
and village, along the shores of  Narragan-
sett Bay-       and said Benjamin
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further declares that in the year 1775
between April & December of that year
he served not less than two months
in said Corps-serving this time said Corps
went to Providence Island to drive the British
there from.
and he further avers that in the year
1776 & between January & December of 
that year he served not less than two
months & a half-one month of which we
were stationed at Patuxet & another month
at Providence as stated_
And he further says that in the year 1777
& he served a month in June, in General
Spencer's Guard, said Corps was returned for that
purpose & he another month when Private
 was [illegible]-two months at least during
 that year- And he further says that
in 1778, he was Sergeant in said Corps
and he served a month as Lexaport
in Sullivans expedition & at least another
month at Patuxet & other alarms.
And the said Benjamin further says that 
in the year 1782, in the month of April he
entered on board a Ship of War called the
South Carolina as Masters Mate, said this
was commanded by Commodore Gillian
Page 18

and the other officers were as named in
said first declaration and he further says
that soon after he entered the Fleet sailed on 
this cruise towards New Providence & took
that Island as maintained & then we returned
to Philadelphia when he was discharged.  
having served on board three months at 
least-and he further says that he served
Eleven months, and a half in all in named aforesaid
in the following capacities viz-
     as a private-----------6 1/2 months
     as a Sergeant---------2       do
     as a Masters mate----3       do
                                       _______
                                       114  [unknown mark]

for which he claims a pension under the
act aforesaid
and said Benjamin further says that the
reason why he did not furnish a Clergyman
was that he was not acquainted with any
who knew him he was formerly acquainted
with Dr. Gano but he is dead- he therefore 
produced the Certificate of two neighbors Samuel
Thurber & Stephen Randall who certified
to his reputation of having been a soldier
he also produced the deposition of Simeon
Ingraham as to part of his service.
                         [signature]   Benjamin Wheaton
November 27 1833
        Sworn to before me
                                      Benja Cowell
                             Committed Dis,t Court R. I. Dist.