Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,713, James Croswell, Navy R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE Navy R.I.
Croswell, James
Number
S.34.713
CONTENTS
[blank]
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10.302
R
Massachusetts
James Croswell
of Rehoboth in the state of Massachusetts who was a Mariner in the [regiment crossed through] Ship Columbus commanded by [Colonel crossed through] Capt. Olney of the U.S. Navy [line crossed through], for the term of one year RI
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the ninth of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued 6th of May 1819 and sent to James Ware Esquire Bentham Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819. 86.66
Semi-anl. all.ce ending 4th Sep 1819. 48.00
[Total] $134.66
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818}
[written upper right page]
let [letter] Otis Thompson
Nov 1 1836
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115
James Croswell.
Lieutenant
[following crossed through: Col Elliots Regt of Artillery 14 months]
76 to 77
Ship Columbus
Olney Capt
U.S. Navy
Admitted
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss.
On this ninth day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared James Croswell aged - years, resident in the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on his oath made the following declaration, by him signed, in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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."
[following handwritten text pasted under the page above]
I James Croswell of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath do testify & say that I served as a seaman on board the Ship Columbus in the service of the United States of America one year being the time for which I Inlisted which said ship was commanded by Abraham Whipple and that I received a regular and Honourable discharge on the 6th day of Jan^y A.D. 1777. I further testify & say that afterward I received a commission as second Lieutenant in Colonel Robert Elliots Regiment of Artillery which said commission was signed by his Excellency William Greene Esq [illegible] under which commission I served one year and two months and was then discharged which said Commission & discharge aforesaid are herewith presented, I further testify & say that the aforesaid services were performed in the war of the revolution against the common enemy, and that I am now in reduced circumstances and stand in need of support from my country.
[signature] James Crosswell
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And, from evidence red^d I certify that I believe the applicant is necessitous & in reduced circumstances as he has stated in his declaration [word crossed through]
And I, the said Judge, do further certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said James Croswell did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. with the Discharge [word blocked by seal] the applicant
[signature] James[?] Ware
[seal affixed to the left]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[blank] ss. [blank] 1818. 
I hereby Certify, That [blank] is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth - that the same Circuit Court of Common Pleas is a Court of record - that the signature to the above certificate is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto affixed is the seal of the said Court
[no signature]
}Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of [blank]
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I William Gladding of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & engaged according to law, do testify & say that Lieutenant James Crosswell now of Rehoboth in the State of Massachusetts, enlisted me as a private in the twelfth day of April A.D. 1779 in the Company of Capt. John [Cargia?] in the Regiment of Artillery of the Rhode Island line, commanded by Col. Robert Elliott and that I served in said Company in said Regiment one year, during which time Lieutenant James Crosswell served as 2d. Lieutenant of said Company in said Regiment during the whole time that I served, which was untill the year expired that I enlisted for; which ended April 12th, 1780
The said Lieutenant James Croswell still continued in said Regiment after my discharge
[signature] William his X mark Gladding
attest [signature] Daniel Bradford
Bristol ss. State of Rhode Island sc. at Bristol
April 6th 1819
Personally appeared William Gladding and after being cautioned to testify the truth and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true. The said William Gladding is personally known to me, he is a very poor man, but I believe him to be a man of truth and veracity
Before me [signature] Daniel Bradford Ch. Just. C.C. Pleas
Court of Bristol
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I Richard Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, do hereby certify that Daniel Bradford Esq. by whom the Oath was administered is Chief Justice of said Court and the signature purporting to be his, is in his own proper hand.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court this seventh Day of April A.D. 1819.
[signature] Rich^d Smith Clk
[seal affixed to left]
William Gladding Deposition
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Invalid
[word crossed through]
Navy
File No. 34713
James Croswell
Mariner
U.S. Ship Columbus
Rev War
Act March 18. 1818
Index: Vol [blank], Page [blank]
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Nathaniel Elliot of Warren in the State of Rhode Island & engaged according to law do testify and say, that I served with James Crosswell now of Rehoboth in the State of Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War, through the years 1777, 1778, 1779 and a part of '80 the two first years said Crosswell served as a non commissioned officer, and the last as a Lieutenant in Col Robert Elliots Regiment then stationed at Rhode Island and there I left the Regiment sometime in 1780 and the said James Crosswell was then Lieutenant in Capt John Garzia Company in said Elliots Regiment
[signature] Nathan Elliott
Bristol ss. State of Rhode Island sc. at Bristol
April 6th 1819
Personally came Nathaniel Elliot and after being cautioned to testify the truth made solemn Oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is true, the s^d Nath^l Elliot is personally known to me and I believe him to be a man of truth & veracity
Before me
[signature] Daniel Bradford Ch. Just. C. C. Pleas
County of Bristol
I Richard Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island do hereby certify that Daniel Bradford Esq. by whom the Oath was administered, is Chief Justice of said Court and the Signature purporting to be his, is in his own proper hand. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this seventh Day of April AD 1819.
[signature] Rich^d Smith Clk
[seal affixed to the left]
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This is to Certify whom it may concern, that the within named James Crosswell has served as a Seaman on board the Ship Columbus in the Service of the Thirteen United States of North America, One Year, being the Time he inlisted for, and is hereby discharged from said Ship, and received the Balance of his Wages.
Given under my Hand, as on board the Columbus in the State of Rhode Island January 6th 1777.
[signature] Joseph Olney
[round stamp of The National Archives of the United States at right]
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[Ship Columbus: Pay Voucher. Amounts in Pounds.Shillings.Pence]
James Crosswell To Ship Columbus [illegible]
1776 
Tot Amt of [Ships?] Cash & advanced by Capt Whipple [British pound sign] 7.16.9
Oct 19 To Cash paid by John Manley dep^y Agent 3.[0].[0]
Nov 27 To [Cash paid] by [John Manley dep^y Agent] 7.17.5
To 1 Months advances in Philad^a 3.[0].[0]
[Subtotal] 21.14.3
Jan^y 6 To an Order from Capt Olney on [illegible] Tillinghast for 15.17.9
[Total] Term [illegible] [British pound sign] 37.12.0
By Wages due as Seaman onboard the Columbus
from Decem 20 1775 to Jan^y 6 1777 is
12 mo 16 days [illegible] [British pound sign] 37.12.0
Ship Columbus Jan^y 6th 1777 Errors Excepted [signature] Joseph Olney
[note at bottom]
James Croswell
Navy & R.I. S34713
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115
James Croswell
Mass^tts [Massachusetts]
Suspended
In letter to J Ware
18 May 1820
[illegible] Ware
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War Department
Pension Office
Oct 26 1819
Sir;
All the papers relative to James Croswells case, that have been received in this Office, are herewith enclosed.
You will perceive that the declaration is not sufficient to entitle him to a pension as an Officer. Let him make a new one, stating at length his services as an officer in Elliots Regt, particularly in '79 & '80:
If, on an examination of his Papers, it shall appear that he is entitled to a pension for services as a Lieut, a new Certificate shall be issued and forwarded to your care.
Very Respectfully J. L. Edwards
To Jairus[?] Ware Esq
Wrentham
Mass.
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Wrentham (Mass) Dec^r 4th 1819
Hon Sec^y of War
James Croswell Son of the applicant has recently been here and inform^d me his Father has deceased - no more declaration of his service as an Officer in Elliot's Reg^t can therefore be made as within directed. - The applicant having left a very indigent Family, they hope the Declaration of his Services as an Officer he first made (the supposedly too general) may be received it being corroborated by the enclosed Depositions. If under the circumstances of the case it cannot be consistently done, it is their desire that his Pension certificate he rec^d as a mariner on board Ship Columbus may be returned to my care, that they may receive payment to the time of his death he never having received anything thereon formerly thereto. It may be recollected I forwarded said certificate to the Pension Office at the time I addressed the enclosed Letter with the accompanying affidavits to which I am again requested by the needy
Rel
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Relations again respectfully to solicit your attention
I much regret the Applicants Commission mentioned in my Letter was never received as thereby it would appear he serv^d as a Lieut. in said Regiment
Yours with sentiments of respect
Jairus Ware
Hon. Sec^y of War
[cut off at bottom: J L Edwards]
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Hon. Sec^y of War
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Wrentham (Mass.) Oct^r 14 1819
Hon Sec^y of War
James Croswell an applicant for a Pension under the late Act of Congress stated in his declaration by me forwarded in Aug^t or Sep^t 1818, that he served on Board the U.S. Ship Columbus, and afterwards as a Lieutenant in Col. Elliots Reg^t (Rh. Island Line). His  Commission though left with me at the time he made his declaration I neglected to forward supporting Elliots Reg^t was not on the Continental establishment, and Lt. Croswells commission being signed by W^m Greene formerly Gen^l of Rh. Island seemed to corroborate my opinion. Understanding afterwards that Col Elliots Reg^t was placed in the Continental Establishment & from Ap.1779 to Ap.1780 said commission with two depositions as further evidence of his service as Lieut. I transmitted in April last to the War department. I am now inform^d by James Croswell son of the Applicant (who two or three months since personally call^d at the Pension Office) that said Commissions & Depositions were not to be found therein. I am positive I delivered them to the Post Office in 
this
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this place on the last of April. Having miscarried I am now requested again to forward Depositions from the same persons, in order to show the applicant entitled to a Pension as an Officer instead of a Mariner as by the Pension Certificate received. Should the evidence be considered sufficient to support his claim to a Pension as Lieut in s^d [said] Reg^t it would be very gladly received instead of the one here enclosed and may be transmitted to me as usual. - 
Nathaniel Elliot of Rh. Island whose deposition is here enclosed I am informed is placed on the Pension List on acc^t of service in the same Reg^t with Croswell the present applicant. Payment on the certificate enclosed I am instructed to say has never been call^d for or rec^d at the B. Bank of the U. States Boston. - 
With sentiments of respect I am
your obed^t Servant
[signature] Jairus Ware