Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 11520, for Lawton Spencer, Rhode Island
Page 1

Navy
Spencer, Lawton Abigial
RI agency and residence
Page 2

[handwritten]
[left page]
No rolls of the Allowance in this office. Mr. Holland says they are in the First Auditors office.

[right page]
[top line is illegible due to torn edges]
13,439 May 14

Abigail Spencer Widow of Lawton Spencer Seaman on board Frigate Alliance War Revolution & was a Pensioner Claimant is a Pensioner Act of Feby dd 1853 & after to evidence on file
Mr Smith
Ad: 160 AC p[illegible] 11756
B O [illegible]
[illegible] Dept. [illegible] Aud Office May 28/56
The rolls of the Frigate Alliance not on file in this office, Please Refer to the 1 Aud. Office.
A. O. De[illegible]
4 Aud

Benja Cowell
Providence R.I.
Page 3

date not read
Rhode Island
Abigail spencer widow of Lawton Spencer who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Mariner
Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 96 dollars 00cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853 
Certificate of Pension issued 26th day of May 1855 and sent to Benjin Cowell
Page 4

9,431
Lawton Spencer, 4 of East Greenwich in the state of R Island who was a mariner, onboard, of the frigate alliance for the term of nine months
Inscribed on the roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commnce onthe 18, of April 1818
Certificate of pension issued the 16 of April 1819 and sent to Benjamin Lowell Providence Rhode Island
arrears to 4th of March 1819 84.50 Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819 48.00

10 mo 13 over 30 x 4/31 $132.50
Revolutionary claim, act 18 March, 1818
Page 5

[handwritten]
Notification sent April 23.d 1821 to B. Cowell, Providence, Rhode Island
Page 6

[handwritten]
Abagail Spencer
137,439
Page 7

[printed form completed in handwriting]

State of Rhode Island, &c.
County of Providence
On this fifth day of May
A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred
and Fifty-five, personally appeared before me,
Sylvester Hartshorn, a Justice of the Peace
within aforesaid County,
Abagail Spencer
aged 72 years, who being duly
sworn according to law, declares and says she is the widow of Lawton Spencer
late of North Providence deceased, who was a seaman in on board the Frigate Alliance
in the war of the Revolution
being the war of the Revolution
in the war with Great Britain decreed by the United Star
he
that her husband enlisted at not recollected.
on or about
the
day of not a year for the term
of no definite period
and continued in actual service for the
term of over nine month and was honorably discharged
She further states that she was married to the said Lawton Spencer
in North Providence on the 27 day of May A.D. 1827
by Revd George Taftthat
her name before her marriage was
Abagail Talbot
and that her said husband died at North Riden
on the 21 day of August A.D. 1838 and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty to which she
may be entitled, under the Act approved March 3d, 1855. And he further
declares that her said husband was a
pensioner of the United States at the
rate of $96 per annum under the act
of Congress of March 18. 1818 & May 1. 1840
for service on board said Frigate & that the ┃
is now an applicant for the same pension
as his widow under the act of Congress
February 3d 1853 & February 8, 1855
to her declaration which made to
have her marriage & the evidence the
ent she now refers for proof her marriage
in this case
Sylvester Huston
Abigail F Spencer
Mark
Page 8

[handwritten]]
We George H Talbot and Abby B Baker
residents of the City of Providence in said
State upon our oaths declare that the
foregoing declaration was signed & acknowledged by said Abagail Spencer in our
presence & that we believe from the
appearance & statements of the applicant
that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
[signed] George H. Talbott
[signed] Abbey B Baker
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person  she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim
[signed] Sylvester Hartshorn
Justice of the Peace

[following is a printed form completed in handwriting] 
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.

CLERK'S OFFICE, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
PROVIDENCE, May 10th A.D. 1835
I, Amasa S. West
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester Hartshorn was on the fifth day of May A.D. 1853 a Justice of the Peace for said County of Providence
duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine. 

IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written
[signed] Amasa S. Westcott Clerk
Page 9

[handwritten]
Abagail Spencer
Page 10

[handwritten]

State of Rhode Island
County of Providence
On this 3d day of March AD 1853 personally
appeared before me Richard W Greene Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of said State
Abagail Spencer now resident in the City of Providence in said County aged 67 years who being duly
sworn according to law doth on her oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain
the provisions of the act of Congress passed
February 3d 1853 granting pensions to widows
of officers & soldiers who served in the war of
the Revolution, vis, that she is the widow
of Lawton Spencer late of North Providence
deceased who was a seaman & served in the
Navy of the Revolution as she believes on
board the Frigate Alliance and when the
act of Congress of March 18th 1818 May 1 1820
we passed he applied for & obtained a
pension under said act at the rate of
$96 per annum payable at the agency
of the United States for paying pensions
in the City of Providence which pension
he received up to the time of his death
and to the declaration which he made to
attain said pension she now refers for
the evidence of her claim-
And she further declares that she was
married to the said Lawton Spencer on the
27th day of May AD 1827 by the Revd
George Taft Rector of St Pauls Church in
Pawtucket R I as will appear by the Rectors
certificate hereto annexed, and she lived with him as his wife until his
Page 11

[handwritten]
death And she further declares that he
said husband departed this life August 20th
AD 1835 and since that period she has
remained a widow + is still a widow
and by law is entitled to the same
pension her said husband received in
his life time,
her mark X
Abigail Spencer
[illegible]
R W Greene [signed]

Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day
& year first above written - I further
certify that from age & infirmities she is unable to attend Court
R W Greene
Chief Justice
Supreme Court
Page 12

[handwritten]

J. George Taft Rector of St Pauls Church
in North Providence in the state of
Rhode Island do certify that on the
twenty fourth day of May AD 1827
I joined in lawful wedlock, Lawton
Spencer to Abagail Talbot both of
said North Providence
G. T.
George Taft Rector of St. Pauls Church North

Remained in North Providence,
March 1853
Sworn to & subscribed before me
the said George Taft known to
me as the Rector of St Pauls Church
in North Providence
Providence [illegible]  North Providence May 6th 1853
Royal Lee Justice of the peace
Page 13

[handwritten]
Abagail Spencer
Page 14

[handwritten]
I George H. Talbot of the City of Providence ┃
in the County of Providence & State of
Rhode Island aged 36 years do testify &
say that Abagail Spencer who has made
the preceding application for a pension
is my mother and the said Lawton Spence
was my father in Law, After the death
of my father she married the said
Lawton Spencer & lived with him until
his death the said Lawton died
on the Twentieth day of August 1835
and since that period has remained
a widow + is now a widow-- The
said Lawton was a pensioner at the
time of his death 
[signed] George C Talbot

State of Rhode Island
Providence p.
In the city of Providence this
twenty fifth day of May AD eighteen
hundred and fifty three formally appeared
George H. Talbot and made with it
the truth of the above statement by him
signed. I also certify that the statements
the said Talbot are entitled to full credence
Before me
Thomas C. Greene
Justice of the Peace
Page 15

[handwritten]

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence p.
I Levi Salisbury Clerk of the court of Common
Pleas within [illegible] the county of Providence
aforesaid, being a court of record, do hereby certify that Richard W Greene is chief Justice of the Supreme Court of said State, that Royall Lee is Justice the Peace for the town of North
Providence in sd County, that Thomas C Greene is a Justice of the Peace for the City of Providence in said County, that by the law of this State they are [illegible] authorized to administer oaths or take the depositions and that their signatures sincerely genuine.

In witness whereof I hereto fix the
seal of said court and set my hand
this 27th day of May AD 1853
Lee Salisbury Clerk.
Page 16

[handwritten]
East Greenwich
Lawton Spencer
Seaman.

Judges certificate
as to claimants indigent circumstances
also as to his belief of services
"Alliance" - Capt. Barry
July 1782, April 1783
1782 April-
-
Admd
15th April 1818
Evidence of service
for nine months
---
explicitly required
Page 17

[handwritten]
I Lawton Spencer of East Granwich in the District of Rhode Island on solemn oath do depose & say that in the month of July 1782 according to the best of my recollection, I entered as a sailor on board the Frigate Alliance a vessel of war then in the services
of the United States commanded by John Barrey Esquire - after my enlistment we sailed on a cruise to the Island of Bermuda took & retook several vessels from thence. We then proceeded to the Banks of Newfoundland where we took 5 ships of the Jamaica fleet,  one of which was ordered to Boston and
the other four to Lorient in France. We followed them, entered said Port the same day with our prizes - we lay there sometime recruiting-- after which we sailed
for the West Indies - we entered several ports Martinico St Eustatius Cape Francois Havanna, when we took a quantity of money for the Continent soon after the Bahama Banks we fell in with three English Frigates, had a severe engagement with one of them. In March 1783 we arrived at Newport RI. went up the river and the ship was hauled up for repairs, & in April ^or May^ following I got my discharge,-- which discharge is now lost-
I further declare that I am now in reduced
circumstances & stand in need of the assistance of my country for support
[signed] Lawton Spencer
Page 18

[handwritten]
Rhode Island District D
Be it remembered that on this seventeenth day of April 1818 came before me the within named Lawton Spencer & made solemn oath to the truth of the declaration by him within subscribed - In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & have caused the Seal of the Court to be hereto affixed
[signed] David Howell
District Judge
the signature of the Judge and the seal of the U. States Dis Court are hereto affixed 
Witness
[signed] Benjamin Cowell
Clk
Page 19

[handwritten]

Rhode Island District 2 April 1889
Hon. Secry at War
I am satisfied that sd Lawton Spencer is a 
poor man-- and that he served in
the revolutionary war the nine months as
required by the act of 18 March 1818
creating Pensions
[signed] David Howell
District Judge.
Page 20

[handwritten]

Lawton Spencer
9.431
Sept. 1819

B. Cowell, Esqr
Providence
R.I.

23 April 1821
Page 21

[handwritten]
This certifyeth that the undersigned have been
several years acquainted with Capt. Lawton
Spencer and are well satisfyed that he labours
under infirmities which disenable him
from procuring a comfortable support by
manual labours -  his wife is an invalid
and they are in indigent circumstances.-
1820 North Providence November 11
Artemas Johnson Physician
N. Manchester
Page 22

[printed form completed in handwriting]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
Providence, ec.
District Court, Special Term, June fifth A.D. 1820

On this Fifth day of June 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a
Court of Record within and for said District, Lawton Spencer
aged 56 years, residing in the town of North Providence in said District & County who being
first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
that he served as a Mariner on board the Frigate Alliance under the command of John Barry Esquire Three years
that he made a previous declaration on the eighteenth day of April 1818, and that
he has received a certificate for a pension, being No. 9431 And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and
that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part
thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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,” passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
[signed] Lawton Spencer

SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of Lawton Spencer

viz 12, Chairs, 3 Table, some knives and forks & Spoons
some Crockery and Iron ware sufficient for a family - 1 small Looking Glass - 1 Security for about sixty dollars other than the
above I have no property, except as above excepted
And this declarant further saith that he is a mariner but has not followed the seas for some years last past - and is now so crippled & infirm, he cannot do any kind of labour
except to overlook Children in a Cotton Factory  - that he is often sick and should his pension the only income he depends upon be taken away he must depend on others for support
[signed] Lawton Spencer
N. B. he has a wife aged 56
a daughter 11
dependent on him 

Rhode Island District
District Court
Sworn to and declared in open Court
on the fifth day of June 1820
David Howell District Court

RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
Clerk's Office of the District Court, A. D. 182
Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court;
and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited
in the aforesaid schedule, is one hundred
dollars and [blank]
cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this thirteenth day of June
1820
Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court
Page 23

[handwritten]
North Providence 3 Mt 22 1819
We the undersigned having been acquainted with Lawton Spencer many years do in truth Say he is a poor Man & depends on his daily labors for support of self & Family
[signed] Timothy Greene
Isaac Wilkinson
Abrm Wilkinson
Niles Manchester
I here by certify that the above subcribers
are gentlemen of the first respectability of
the Town of North Providence
North Providence County of Providence State of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantation
United States of America April 1st 1819
Daniel Green Notary Public
Page 24

[handwritten]
The Deposition of Thomas Laing of Providence in the State of Rhode Island who being engaged according to Law says that he was formerly a Seaman on board the Frigate Alliance a vessel of war in the service of
the United States Commanded by Capt Barry
for his services while on board said frigate he has [send] a pension under the law of the 18 March 1818. In the month of July AD 1782 the Frigate Alliance lay in New London (Con) recruiting for men, - I well remembers that Lawton Spencer of East Greenwich at that time, entered on board as a mariner - after the Frigate was recruited we sailed on a cruise
we first went to Bermuda then cruised off the banks of Newfoundland, where we took a number of the Jamaica fleet The Frigate then went to France when she lay some time, from thence sailed to the West Indies  after cruising several months we returned to the United States, we arrived in Newport R. I. 
according to this deponents recollection in the month of March, from thence we
sailed up the river to Providence where Frigate was dismantled & the crew discharged; peace having been made with the enemy  - according this deponent best recollection the crew were not discharged untill May 1783, This
deponent well recollects that
said Spencer was honorably ^discharged^ with the rest of the crew & that he was on board said Frigate nearly ten months
- further this deponent sayeth not 
[signed] Thos Laing
Providence April 1819 Sworn to before
Benjamin Cowell
Comm [illegible]
Page 25

[handwritten]
Abagail Spencer
Page 26

[handwritten]
State of Rhode Island-
County of Providence ss

On this fifth day of May 1855 personally
appeared before me Sylvester Hartshorn a
Justice of the Peace in said County Abagail
Spencer who being duly sworn makes this
Supplemental declaration to obtain a
pension under the act of Congress of
February 3d 1853. She declares & says that
soon after said act was passed she made an application as the widow of Lawton Spencer deceased who was a Seaman on board the Frigate Alliance & who was in his life time
a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $96 per annum payable at the agency in Providence under the provisions of the act of March 1818. But she was informed that
her claim was [not provided] by the aforesaid act of Feb 3, 1853 & her claim was not granted
But she now declares that her claim for a pension is provided for by the provisions of the third section of the act of Congress of February 28 1855. That by the provisions of said section she is entitled to a pension
in the same manner & to the same
extent as if he had been entitled under
said act of Febry 3d 1853, and she further declares that proof of her marriage to said Lawton & of his his death & her right to the same pension her said husband
Page 27

[handwritten] 
had received up to the time he died, were forwarded to the Pension Office when she made her former application to which she now refers.
her
Abigail Spencer
Mark

Witness
Sylvester Hartshorn

Providence In Providence this 5th day of
May 1855 Sworn to and subscribed before
and I further certify that her statement
are entitled to full credit
[signed] Sylvester Hartshorn
Justice of the Peace

[printed completed in handwriting]
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.

CLERKS OFFICE, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
PROVIDENCE, May 7 A.D. 1855

I, Amasa S Westcott
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester Hartshorn was on the fifth day of May A.D. 1855 a Justice of the Peace for said county of Providence
duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine. 
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereby subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written
[signed] Amasa S. Westcott Clerk
Page 28

[handwritten]
Providence May 18th  1855
Sir
In compliance with the directions in your letter of the 14 just respecting the claim of Abigail Spencer widow of Lawton Spencer for a pension under the act of Congress of Feb 3
1853 & Feb 28th 1855, I herewith enclose further evidence of the widowhood of Mrs  Spencer, which I presume will be satisfactory
I have to request her claim may be allowed 
I am Respectfully
your Obt Sert
[signed] Benja Cowell
PS The official character of the Magistrate
before whom the enclosed was taken was
certified by the proper authority on her
claim for a pension
Hon L P Waldo
Page 29

[handwritten]

Providence May 7 1855
Sir

I herewith enclose the supplemental
declaration of Abagail Spencer widow
of Lawton Spencer a mariner of the war
of the Revolution & a pensioner under the
act of Congress of March 18, 1818
May 1 1820, She made a previous
declaration under the act of of Feb 3, 1853
but was informed by your letter to me
of August 25th 1853, that her claim was
was not provided for by the 2d section of that
act, but the act of Feb 28 1855 embraces her
case, in the same manner & to the same
extent as if it had been allowed under the
act of Feb 3d, 1853-
as this claim has been now pending
for two years & upwards I have to request
that it may be allowed without
further delay 
I am Respectfully
your Obt Sert
[signed] Benja Cowell

Hon L. P. Waldo
Page 30

Providence  May 27 1853

Sir

I herewith enclose the applications of Ellen H Whitford widow of Thomas Whitford & Abagail Spencer widow of Lawton Spencer for pensions under the act of Feb 3 1853 - 

I am very Respectfully 
your obt servt
Benja Cowell

Hon L P Waldo
Page 31

 [handwritten]
I George H Talbott of the City and County
of Providence and State of Rhode Island
aged thirty eight years do depose and say
that Abigail Spencer now an applicant
for a Pension under a recent act of Congress
is the widow of Lawton Spencer who was
a Pensioner of the United States at the
time of his death, said Lawton Spencer lived in
East Greenwich R.I. when he was first
Pensioned. he afterwards removed to the
Village of Pawtucket, North Providence
when he lived and was married and
where he died, I was present at his funeral
[signed]
George H Talbot

Providence ss In Providence this Eighteenth
day of May AD 1855. Personally appeared
before me the above named George H Talbot
and made oath to the ^truth of the^ above deposition by him signed, and I further certify that he is a credible witness
Before me
[signed] Sylvester Hartshorn
Justice of the Peace
Page 32

[printed form completed in handwriting]

Breif in the case of Abigail Spencer, Widow of Lawton
Providence County and state of Rhode Island
act 3d Feby:1853
Claim, (original or increase) [blank]
Proof exhibited, (if original.) [blank]
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was pensioned under the act of 18 March 1818 &  @ cont the rate
of $96. per an. Marriage proven by a copy of the Church record thereof
Pensioned 20 August, 1835, as per affidavit of two witnesses & report of the This Auditor
Widowhood identity [?] is established by the
Affidavit of two credible Affiants.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  [blank] If so, what? [blank]

[signed] Benjn Cowell
Providence
Name and residence of Agent
R.I

J.C. Boynton [signed]
Examining clerk.
Page 33

[handwritten}
Providence 6th April 1819

I certify that on the 12th of May 1783, I paid Lawton Spencer the wages due to him as a Seaman on board the Frigate Alliance, commanded by John Barry Esquire. The Payroll, Receipts &c having been, in July following, transmitted to Robert Morris Esquire, then Agent of Marins, I have no way of ascertaining the time he served, nor the amount of wages per month. 
Geo. Olney Agent for paying off the Officers and Crew of said Frigate.
Page 34

[handwritten]
No 2047
Abigail Spencer, widow of
Lawton Spencer
Let. Benjm Cowell Aug 25/53
(AG)
Let: to Benjm. Cowell, May 14/55

 [illegible]

Act 3d February 1853.
Page 35

[handwritten]
Appl of Abigail
Spencer widow of
Lawton Spencer
Providence Co.
R. Island
0.19
Act 3d Feby 1853
$96 per An
com: Feby 3d /53
Rev:
Benj Cowell
Providence
R Island
[stamp in right margin]
Department of the Interior,
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 36

[handwritten]
Copy of [illegible]
20"Aug: 35.2 [illegible]
[illegible]
 Boynton
Page 37

[handwritten]
30.705

55

160 Acres
Page 38

[printed completed in handwriting]

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 11520
Abigail Spencer
Widow of
Lawton
Mariner Rev War
---
Act: Feb 3d/53
Index:-- Vol. M, Page 234
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 39

[handwritten]
Pension Office
May 23d 1855.
Sir:
Please certify the time
to which the within named
pensioner was paid or the
date of his death

Very Respectfully
" 20 Aug 35"
[signed] L P Waldo
Commissioner

R. J. Atkinson, Esqr
Third Auditor [illegible]
[writing in the left margin is illegible]
Page 40

[handwritten]
Lawton Spencer "died August 1835," paid,
Rob. J (illegible]
Auditor