Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,669, Eliezer Brown, R.I.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE                              NUMBER
R. J       Brown, Eliezer        S. 21, 669
CONTENTS

Aug. 16 1755 in Smithfield R I thereof are
In 1832 res of North Providence R.I.
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Rhode Island
Eliezer Brown
of Bordan in the State of R Island
who was a private in the company command
by Capt Angell of the Reg command
by Col Witbeck in the Rhode Island
line for 13 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of June 1832 and sent Hon T.
Burges Providence R. I.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $86.66
Seman. allowance ending 4 Sept
21.67
$108.33
corded by

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book E Vol. 2a Page 109
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Eliezer Brown
F.
22172
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Rhode-Island District, sc. August Term 1832
County of Providence
On this Ninth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a
District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session-- Elieser Brown
a resident of North Providence the County of Providence
and State of Rhode Island aged 76 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 States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he has enlisted 16 of August 1775 in Smithfield R. I.
has no memory of his age
lived there when he entered the service & ever since th
War untill two months since now living in North Providence
and the applicant further states that in May 1775 he enlisted as a
private soldier for eight months in Capt John Angell
company & Col Daniel Hitchcock's regiment of Rhode
Island State Troops & was stationed at Roxbury Mass
and the applicant further states that he was drafted
as private
private in December 1776 for one month under
Capt Angell & Col Alwell's regiment of R.I. Militia and
was stationed at Warwick
and the applicant further states the he was again
drafted for one month in Spencers expedition in October
1777 the names of the officers he has forgotten
and the applicant further states that in the
Spring of 1778 he was again drafted for one month
and served at Pawtuxet who the officers were he
has forgotten
and the applicant further states that he was again
drafted for one month in the summer of 1778 &
stationed at Providence has forgotten who the
officers were
and the applicant further states that he was again
drafted in August 1778 for one month to serve in
Sullivans expedition who the officers were
he has forgotten
his enlistment
all which that drafts he served out and was
honourably discharged
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he has forgotton
his enlistment
all which several drafts he served out and was
honourably discharged 
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 Eliezer Brown his mark
Witness Blandwell
I hereby certify that I have known Eliser
Brown of Smithfield for upwards of sixty years and
in the begining of the revolution when he enlisted as a
solder in Col Hitchock regimen to go to Boston and I believe
served his time out and he was drafted as a solder of the me
City and went to Norwich at the time the British came 
to Rode Island and served I believe one month I was there my self
and served one month and I have often heard him say that
he was drafted to serve in Spencer expedition to go on Rhode
Island and says he was drafted to go in Sullivans expedition
on Rhode Island I saw him at Tavertown a day or two before
the troops went on to the Island as a solder
Smithfield July 16, 1832
Elisha Olney
Aug  9th1832 I swore to in open Court
B Carwell Mc

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 Revolutionory Soldier, and
served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Elisha Olney Thomas Mann
Stephen Olney who have certified to the 
the said applicant are residents in the town of Smithfield in the 
State of Rhode Island and are 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 proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of Eliezer Brown for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
this 28
day of December 1832
Benjamin Cowell clk
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22172
Eliezer Brown
R.I.
Private
13 months
Admd
B. Cowell
14166
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BRIEF in the case of Eliezer Brown
Co of Providence in the State of R.I.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 76
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  Gen.
May In 1773 enlisted  8  private  Cat Angell Col Hitchcock          
1776 drafted              1          "               "      Col Atwell
Oct 1777 "                  1         "     names of officers forgotten
Spring 1778 "              1        "     "            "                         
  "                  "
December  "  "             1       "      "           "
"   "
"                    "              1          "   Sullivans expedition
                                  13 mo
5. In what battles was he engaged?  none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Smithfield R. I.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Documentary one living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are
not attached according to the regulations
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk
2 other witnesses are mentioned
but do not appear amongst
the papers
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22172
Eliezer Brown
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Eliezer Brown
which require
further proof or explanation.
1. 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 the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  yes
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 to what amout of pension
he is entitled? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
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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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 revolutionary
service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 
it?
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?  yes
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 recollection
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,
and the 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 indefinite,
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
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. 
It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed
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 to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
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 certificate
must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
attached to the certificate.
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.
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Revolution
21669
INVALID.
---

File No. 21669
Eliezer Brown
Pri Rev War
-
-
Act: June 7th 32
Index:: --Vol. 2, Page 50
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Rhode Island District

In Providence December 28th 1832
I certify that Israel Angell whose
hand writing is affixed to the annexed
certificate is now deceased & was
deceased at the time said Court was
holden to wit August 9th 1832 But
his hand writing is familiar with me
and I have no doubt it his own
hand writing     I also certify
that Stephen Olney whose name
is on the back of said certificate is
now dead-
Benja Cowell
Clerk & Commiss
of Dist Court
R I Dist
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t
Baralle
Clk
These lines may Certify all whom it may
concern that Eliezer
Brown the bearer hereof was an Enlisted Soldier for nine months.
in a Regiment raised in the year 1775 by the then Colony of
Rhode Iisland and Providence Plantations and commanded by Colonel
Daniel Hitchcock who was ordered to march with his Regiment
to Rexbury to make opposition to the British troops then in possession
of Boston which term of time said Brown faithfully served
out and was Honourably Discharged
I Certify that I am well
with Col Israel 
Brigett who was an officer
in the Revolution
Thomas Mann

Israel Angell then
Major of the aforesaid 
Regiment
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Eliezer Brown
Certificate

I the subscribed belong to within mentioned Regiment
and can testify that I have the Certificate from Col
Israel Angell is correct    Stephen Olney
July 16th 1832