Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21520, for Valentine Sweet, Rhode Island
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(3-1776)
Service R.I.
Sweet, Valentine
NUMBER S. 21520
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21.434
Rhode Island
Valentine Sweet 
of Providence in the State of R.I., who was a Pri & Corpl in the Company commanded by Capt Bullen of the Rgt commended by Col Crary in the R.Island line for 4 mos Private 18 mo Corporal

Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 79 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of 1833 and  Sent Cowell Providence R.I. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $198.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 39.67
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$238.00
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Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by RCHde Elson Clerk 
Book E Vol. 2 Page 129
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Valentine Sweet 21238 Vale
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Rhode-Island District, sc. August Term 1832 County of Providence 
On this 8th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session-- Valentine Sweet resident of Johnson in the County of Residence and State of Rhode-Island aged 74 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 
He was born February 27 1758 in Johnston His record of his birth lived in Johnston when he entered the service and since the War has always resided there- - 

That he enlisted as a private on the 19th day of September 1776 for three months & served in the company of Capt John Gavit in Col. John Cook's Regiment and served the entire period ending 19th of December of said year. That in the first part of June 1777, he enlisted for  9 months in the company of Capt. Reuben Ballen, in Col Archibald Crary's regiment. and served the whole period until the 18th day of March 1778. He enlisted the first part of June 1778 for 6 months in the company of Captain William Lawless in same regiment and served the entire period ending March 16th 1779. That in the year 1779 he served as a substitute as a private in the militia to go to Pawtuxet for one month, under Major Rhodes Arnold and served the whole period as a corporal. He was honorably discharged at the end of each enlistment but he never received a written discharge. 
 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declared that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid 
Valentine Sweet 
attest B. Cowell

William Wilkinson of Providence on Oath testifies that he served in Col. Archibald Crarys Regiment in the year 1777 & 1778. He that he is not personally acquainted with Valentine Sweet but that his name is on a list of names of those who served in said Regiment made up to ascertain the amount of Depreciation of wages on which there was found to be due to him the sum of $30. 13.2 Lawful Money which leaves no doubt that he served from one & an half to two years in said Regiment W William Wilkinson
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he served in Col. Archibald Crarys Regiment in the year 1777 & 1778 That he is not personally acquainted with Valentine Sweet - but that his name is on a list of names of those who served in said Regiment made up to ascertain the amount of Depreciation of wages on which there was found to be due to him the sum of $30. 3. 2 Lawful Money which leaves no doubt that he served from one & an half to two years in said Regiment 
William Wilkinson 

August 8th 1832 
Sworn to in open Court Benj Cowell Clerk

We, Jeremiah Manton residing in Johnson and Philip Matheson residing in Johnson hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Valentine Sweet who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 74 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. 
Jeremiah Manton 
Phillip Matheson

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 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 Jeremiah Manton & Phillip Matheson who signed the preceding certificate,[crossed out:  is a Clergyman], are resident in the town of Johnson & that William Wilkinson who has certified as aforesaid [crossed out: who has signed the same] is a resident in the City of Providence that all the aforesaid 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 Valentine Sweet for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 28 day of November AD 1832 Benjamin Cowell Clk
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21230 Vallentine Sweet 
R.I
Corporal 18 month
Private 11 & 12 

July 16 1833 
2 12 66 13.33 1932 8.66

198.33
B. Cowell
Providence R.I.
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BRIEF in the case of Vallentine Sweet 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? 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. Period. Years, Duration of Service. Months, Days. Rank. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.
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Revolution
21520 INVALID. 
File No. 21520 
Valentine Sweet 
Corp Rev War - 
Act: June 7" 32"
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 4 
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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And now on this 22 day of August 1833 Valentine Sweet maketh oath in addtion to the declaration made Aug 8 1832 said Valentine declares that he served twenty two months as stated in his said declaration & he now produces the certificate of William C Manchester a Clergyman residing in said Johnston & also a certified copy of the list of Crary's Regiment alluded to in Wm Wilkinson deposition - 
Valentine Sweet 

And the said Valentine also produces a certified copy of the Roll of Crarys Regiment by which it will appear that he was a corporal in the same & that he served as a Corporal & in addition to which he served four months as a private making in all twenty two months as above stated 
Valentine Sweet 

Sworn to before me this 22 day of August 1833 by said Valentine Sweet 
Benja Cowell Commiss Dist Court P Dist
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We William C Manchester a Clergyman residing in Johnston & Alphons Billings residing in Providence hereby certify & say that we are well acquainted with Valentine Sweet who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe him to be now 75 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
 Wm C. Manchester 
Alphons Billings

August 2 1833 
Sworn to before me and I further certify that William C Manchester is a Clergyman residing in Johnston & that he and the said Alphons who is a senator in the General Assembly of this State are both credible witnesses 
Benja Cowell G Commiss Dist Court R.I. Dist
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21238 Valentine Sweet 
Johnson 
Roll of Crary's Regiment must enclosed 
B Cowell Esq 
Providence R I
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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? No Certified by two congress 
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 presby 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 months yearand days, I served as a and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 --- Valentine Sweet 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? 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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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 and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection - . able. 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. 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 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. 

an authenticated copy of the List alluded to in the affidavit of Wm Wilkinson must be produced