Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,075, William Borden, R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Borden, William
NUMBER
S. 21,075
CONTENTS
[blank]
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21.165
Rhode island
William Borden of Newport in the State of R. Island who was a Pri Sgt in the commanded by Captain Cook of the Rgt commanded by Col. Church in the R Island line for 
21 mos Private
3 mos Sergeant
Included on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 85 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22^d day of Aug 1836 and sent John Cross Portsmouth R.I.
Arrears to 4th of March 1833 $170.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept [1833] [$]42.50
[Total] $212.50
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2^d Page 103
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Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of Rhode Island,}
County of Newport,} ss.
On this First day of October, 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Probate of the Town of Tiverton now sitting, William Borden a resident of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode-Island, aged Seventy Eight 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, as herein stated.
That is to say: He in the month of May 1775, enlisted at s^d. [said] Tiverton into Capt William Cooks Company Col. Church's Regiment, for the term of Eight or nine months - of this Company Gilbert Manchester was Lt. and Israel Church was Ensign - one Thomas Church was Col. of the Regiment and Henry Sherburne of Newport was Major - Soon after his enlistment he was marched with said Company to Jamaica Plains near Roxbury - and thence to Prospect Hill in the vicinity of Boston and joined the Army then [investing?] the latter place - He thinks General Putnam commanded the troops to which he belonged - during the campaign he was engaged with the rest of the troops in fortifying said Prospect Hill and the vicinity - In this service he continued nine months, when in the month of January 1776 he was discharged at s^d Prospect Hill and he returned home - 
In the month of February 1776, he enlisted at s^d Tiverton into a company to guard the shores of s^d Town from Howlands ferry to Fall River, for three months - there was no Captain over this Guard Company but it was under the command of Col John Cook - he acted in this service as a sergeant of the guard - he served out said three months, and in May 1776 he was discharged and he returned home - he was then enrolled in the 3^d or upper Company of Militia of said Tiverton, then under the command of Capt. Benjamin Durfee - 
In September 1776 he was detached or drafted from said company of Militia, to which he belonged, and was marched on to Rhode Island, under Capt Benj^n Durfee - and stationed in the vicinity of Newport, in order to repel the expected attack of the enemy on that place - Capt. John Cook at that time commanded the Militia in the neighborhood of Newport which were in the public service - in this service he staid Six weeks, when he was discharged at Newport and he returned home
In December 1776 he belonged to said 3^d Company of Militia in s^d Tiverton under the command of s^d Benjamin Durfee, and was drafted thereupon to guard the western shores of s^d Town from the whole of the Island of Rhode Island, It was soon found that nothing short of a strong military force could keep in check, the galled and vindictive spirit of our enemy, who had now become our near neighbors -
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 - unfortunately for your declarant, he lived in that part of Tiverton, which is opposite to, and North of the North end of Rhode Island - being separated from sd. Island here, only by a narrow strait channel, sufficient for the passage of small vessels - here besides doing the ordinary duty, of being in the service one half of the time, he was in a continued state of anxiety and alarm during the occupation of s^d Island by the British - being frequently called out when it was not his term to be on duty - the draft aforesaid was for one month - and from this time, till the English left Rhode Island in the Month of November 1779. Your declarant was drafted from s^d Company for divers and many times, for one month at a time, to stand [illegible] on the shores of said Town, from the Massachusetts state line near Fall River, Southwardly to Fogland ferry - He is not able to state the particular days on which his many short services commenced and ended - he can only say - and he doth solemnly declare, that according to the best of his knowledge and belief, that he served at least, for as much as one half of the time, during the aforesaid period from Dec. 1776 to Nov^r 1779 which was the times that the Enemy held Rhode Island, and your declarant for the time that he was in the public service, in the militia, as aforesaid, received the [illegible] pay from the State as other troops - During the time aforesaid s^d. Company of Militia was under the command of Capt. Benjamin Durfee till the latter part of 1777 when Richard Durfee became Capt. and served during the War, and longer, one Sherman was Lieut. and Thomas Durfee who was afterwards Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County - was Ensign sd, Company was attached to the Regiment of Col John Cook - but our s^d service being performed by companys or parts of a company - we never had any Reg^tl officer directly over us - we were usually in the drafts - under some one of the officers of our own company - 
During sd. time and in one of said drafts in the month of Sept. or October 1777 he was detached with a certain number of others, and proceeded to New Bedford, under an Officer from Massachusetts, whose name was Capt Oliver Reads [a few words crossed through]  - and brought a number of Whaleboats round Seakonnet Point to Fogland Ferry - This was in Spencers Expedition as called - at this time he was in the service four weeks - Capt. Durfee commanded the Company and Gen^l Spencer a Continental officer commanded in Chief.
Again in August 1778 he volunteered into Capt. Davols Company was crossed over to Rhode Island in General Sullivans Expedition, his company was attached to the Reg't of Col. John Cook - He staid on the Island during the whole expedition and retreated off at Howlands ferry with the rest of the Army on the last day of August 1778 - in this September he saw Gen. Greene and Col. Greene who commanded the Negro Regiments  and LaFayette of the Continental Troops - And said Borden avers that he truely and faithfully served said Army mentioned, in his country's cause, in the War of the Revolution - making in all thirty one months, - three months as Sergeant - the residue as a private.
And he further declares that he was born in said Tiverton on the 10th day of June 1754, and that he hath no record of his age, that he lived at the time he entered into s^d. service, in s^d Tiverton where he hath ever resided since the Revolutionary War, except for a period of about fifteen years, when he lived in Freetown in the adjoining County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts - he removed from said Freetown back to s^d Tiverton his present place of residence
[continued]
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about ten years ago - That he never rec'd any written discharge from any of said services, but was discharged verbally by his commanding officers - That he has no documentary Evidence of any said services - That there being no clergymen in his neighborhood or vicinity, he refers to Elihu Hicks and George Lawton Esqrs. who are his neighbors and citizens of said Town of Tiverton who testify to his character for veracity and to their belief of his having been a soldier of the revolution - and also the annexed depositions - The aforesaid service performed as a private Soldier except for the three months in the early part of 1776 when he was a sergeant - 
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. 
[signature] William Borden
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk
We, Elihu Hicks Esqr. residing in the Town of Tiverton aforesaid and George Lawton Esqr. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Borden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy eight 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 and subscribed the day aforesaid.
[signature] Elihu Hicks
[signature] George Lawton
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after 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 Elihu Hicks Esqr. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Town of Tiverton and that George Lawton Esqr. who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Tiverton and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit, and the said Court further certifies that the Deposition of Thomas Willcox hereto annexed was sworn to and subscribed this day before said Court and that said Deponent is known to said Court to be a credible Person - 
I, Asa Gray Clerk of the Court of Probate in the Town of Tiverton, in the County & State aforesaid, a Court of Record do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of William Borden for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty two - And of American Independence the Fifty seventh
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk of Court of Probate
[seal affixed to the left]
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21242
William Borden
Private 21 mos
Sergt 3 [mos]
[Total] 24 [mos]
5 ob
July 16 1833
S 424
70
15
[total] 85
J. Cross
Portsmouth
RI
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Brief in the case of William Borden Co. of Newport 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 injury?
3. How old is he? 78
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table follows]
[Column Headings]
/ Period. / Duration of Service. / Rank. / Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. /
[Row 1] / May In 1775 enlisted / 9 [mos] / private / Cap Cook Col Church
[Row 2] / Feb. 1776 [enlisted] / 3 [mos] / Sergeant / Col. Cook
[Row 3] / Sep [1776] drafted / 1 [mo] 12 [days] / private / Cap Durfee [Col} Cook
[Row 4] / Decem [1776] drafted / 1 [mo] [12 days crossed through] / [private] / [Cap. Durfee] [Col] Cook
[Row 5] / and from this [above] time till Nov. 1779 was frequently called out for one Month at a time. / 17 months according to his calculation making his whole Service during the War 31 m [months]
[End of Table]
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Co. of Newport R.I.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and three living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the periods are not exactly specified - nor the length of service
one of the Witnesses are not Certified the others are
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[signature] George Taylor Examining Clerk.
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Revolution
21075
Invalid.
File No. 21.075
William Borden
Sergt Rev War
Act June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 44
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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21242
William Borden
John Cross E[sqr?]
Portsmouth 
RI
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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 William Borden 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 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?
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 amount of pension
he is entitled? No for 1779. He must specify each particular tour of active service, the length of each, the names of all the officers under whom he served & the place or places where each tour of duty was performed
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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[page] 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 revolutionary
service?
Certified by two citizens
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? Yes
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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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.
for the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
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
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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Wm. Borden
21242
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerk's Office of the Court of Probate for the Town of Tiverton in the County of Newport and the State aforesaid.
I Asa Gray Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that William Coggeshall whose signature is affixed to the enclosed Depositions of Stephen Shearman & Richard Durfee is one of the Justices of the Peace for the Town of Tiverton and County of Newport aforesaid duly commissioned under the Seal of the State; And I further Certify that the signature of his name affixed to said Depositions are his genuine Signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at said Tiverton the first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two; And of American Independence the fifty seventh
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk of Court of Probate
[Seal and ribbon affixed to the left]
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I Thomas Willcox of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy four years on solemn oath depose and say, that in the year 1775 I was well acquainted with William Borden of said Tiverton an applicant for a Pension under the late Act of Congress. Said Borden in the year 1775, served in Capt. William Cook's Company in Col. Thomas Church's Regiment, to this Company I also belonged at the same time, we were marched from Tiverton to Jamaica Plains, near Boston and then to Prospect Hill, said Borden served in said Company all the time which I served which was nine months, and he was discharged with me ["at or" crossed through] near Boston in December or January 1775-6 and, further this Deponent saith not - 
[signature] Thomas Willcox
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 1st day of October 1832
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk
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I Stephen Shearman of Broadalbin in the County of Montgomery and State of New York of lawful age to give evidence do testify and say that I have known William Borden of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island for more than sixty years last past, that for many years before and after the Revolutionary war I lived a near neighbor to the said William Borden - that sometime in the latter part of Spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, the said William Borden enlisted in the war of the Revolution in the Rhode Island state service, that he was stationed at Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts, near the Boston line, in the company commanded by Captain William Cook and in Colonel Church's regiment - that he served in the war, in the aforesaid company and regiment something more than nine months when he was discharged and returned home. I further certify and say that the said William Borden served in a company of volunteers stationed to guard part of Freetown (now Troy) in the State of Massachusetts, and that to the best of my recollection he continued to serve as one of the said guard about three months from the latter part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven - 
And further the deponent saith not - 
[signature] Stephen Shearman
In presence of us
[signature] James Ford
[signature] Richard Durfee
Newport ss. - Tiverton July 16th 1832 - Personally appeared the above named Stephen Shearman and made oath that the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed is just and true in all its parts
[signature] Wm. Coggeshall Justice of the Peace
Before me
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Newport ss. Tiverton July 16th 1832 and I further hereby certify that the said Stephen Shearman is a credible person to whose testimony full faith and credit ought to be given
[signature] Wm Coggeshall Justice Peace
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I, Richard Durfee of Tiverton in the County of Newport and state of Rhode Island of lawful age to give evidence do testify and say, that I have known William Borden of Tiverton aforesaid for more than sixty years past - that in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, the said William Borden enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary war in the company commanded by Capt. William Cook, in the Rhode Island state service, and with said company, went to Boston in the state of Massachusetts, where he was in the service of his country, doing duty as a soldier from eight to ten months - that immediately after his return from Boston, the said William Borden was called out with the company commanded by Benjamin Durfee to which company I then belonged, and marched to Newport in the state of Rhode Island, in the Regiment commanded by Colonels Richmond and Babcock, where the said William Borden and myself were stationed to guard the town of Newport and the adjacent towns against the attacks of the British ships of war, which then lay off Newport harrassing our shores and threatening to burn our towns - That the said William Borden was on duty at Newport as aforesaid about six weeks - The said Richard Durfee further testifies and says, that he well remembers that the said William Borden, after the times above specified, and during the Revolutionary war, was often absent from home, that it was at that time said and believed William Borden was engaged in the service of his country as a soldier, and
[continued]
Page 19

that I the said Richard Durfee fully believe that the said William Borden was a soldier in the War of the Revolution in the Rhode Island state service, at other and different times than those above named, but of which he had no personal knowledge and cannot therefore testify - 
And further the deponent saith not - 
[signature] Richard Durfee
Newport ss. October 1st 1832 - Personally appeared the above named Richard Durfee and made oath that the above statement by him made and subscribed is just and true
Before me Wm. Coggeshall Justice of the Peace
Newport ss. October 1st 1832 - and I further hereby certify that the said Richard Durfee is a credible person to whose testimony full faith ought to be given
[Wm Coggeshall Justice of the Peace}
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State of Rhode Island &c.}
County of Newport} ss.
Persona;;y appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace within and for the county of Newport, William Borden, an applicant for a pension, 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 at the periods of the war mentioned in the following grades: namely - In Capt. Cook's Company Col. Church Regt from May 1775 to Jan 1776 as a private, nine months - From February 1776 to May 1776 a sergeant in a company under the Command of Col. John Cook for three months - In September and October 1776 in Newport under Capt Benjamin Durfee in the Militia one month and twelve days: In Capt Benjn Durfees Company being the 3rd company of Militia in Tiverton in December 1776, and in February, April, June, August in the year 1777 one month each, as a private five months - In October and November 1777 in Spencer's Expedition under Capt B Durfee and Capt Read of Massachusetts one month and five days - In the same Company of militia, now under the Command of Capt. Richard Durfee December 1777 one month and February, April, and June in the year 1778 one month each - In August 1778 in Capt. Davols company as a volunteer one month - In October and December 1778 under Capt Richard Durfee two months - and in Capt Durfees said company of Militia in the months of March, May and July in the year 1779 - three months - all the above service performed as a private except three months as a sergeant - Making in all thirty one months and seventeen days service for which he claims a pension - And he further declares that for all the above stated time he was in actual service, and was not employed in any [illegible] business - and that the companies to which he belonged were ordered into the public service by the State of Rhode Island - and that there is no Clergyman in his neighborhood or vicinity (as he heretofore declared in Court and in his declaration. -)
[signature] William Borden
Subscribed and duly sworn at Tiverton in said County of Newport on this [2nd?] day of July 1833 - 
Before me Charles Durfee Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerk's Office of the Court of Probate of the Town of Tiverton in the County of Newport & State aforesaid
I, Asa Gray, Clerk of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that Charles Durfee whose signature is affixed to the within Deposition of William Borden and the annexed Deposition of Isaac Negus is one of the Justice of the Peace for the Town of Tiverton and County of Newport in the State aforesaid duly commissioned under the Seal of said State engaged thereon according to Law and fully qualified to act in his said capacity. And I do further certify that the signature of his name to said Depositions are his genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at said Tiverton this twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three And of American Independence the fifty eighth
[signature] Asa Gray Clerk
[seal affixed to the right]
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I, Isaac Negus of Tiverton in the County of Newport on solemn oath depose, that I have always been acquainted with William Borden of s^d. [said] Tiverton, now an applicant for a pension - In the year 1778 and 1779 we both belonged to the same company of militia, to wit, the third company of this town under the command of Capt. Richard Durfee - The men of this company were called into the public service by [tours?] doing duty for one half the time for one month at a time - during these years I have been with said Borden in the service guarding the shores a number of times for a month each - and I have seen him on duty when I was not with him - we used to meet at the barracks at Baily's shore, at Bordens Boat House, and at Howlands ferry most - he further saith not - 
[signature] Isaac Negus
State of Rhode Island County of Newport - sc.
Be it known that on this 20th day of July in the year 1833 personally appeared the above named Isaac Negus and made oath to the truth of the above Statement by him subscribed - and I hereby Certify that the Deponent is a credible person
Charles Durfee Justice of the Peace -