Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22059, for James Rhodes, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Rhodes, James
Betsey
NUMBER
W.22059
CONTENTS
[none]
Page 2

27177
Rhode Island
James Rhodes
of Warwick in the State of R.I. who was a private in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the Brig commanded by Colo Arnold in the RI line for 19 months
private
Inscribed on the Roll of R.I. at the rate of 63 - Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Feby, 1834 - and Sent to Hono. N. R. Knight Senate. R.I.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833  $158.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar 34  31.66
[Total] $189.99
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk,
Book E Vol 2 Page 127
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[left page]
Reported
[right page]
1672
Rhode Island
Betsey Rhodes
widow of James Rhodes who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 63 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of Sept. 1848.
and sent to 
Franklin Grave
Providence RI
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 19 Col. 3.
Page 4

James Rhodes
29.246
Admitted
19^m private
Colo Arnold
Hon. N. R. Knight
Page 5

[ribbon attached at top of document]
State of Rhode Island sc.
County of Kent sc.
On this thirteenth day of January AD 1834 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of Probate in said County and a Court of Record now in session James Rhodes of Warwick in said County aged 69 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the War of the Revolution & served as herein stated. - 
In answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he answers & says.
To the 1st. He was born in Warwick aforesaid February 10 1764
2nd. His birth is recorded in the town Clerks office in said town
3rd. He says he was living in said Warwick
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in a Village called Patuxet, and since said War he always has lived there.
4th. He joined the Patuxet Rangers as herein after stated
5th. He served under Col. Arnold, Commander of said Corps
6. He never received any written discharge.
7. His present neighbors are the Rev^d Job Manchester John Arnold and John W. [illegible] who can testify in his behalf.
And as to his services said James further declares that in January AD 1779, just before he was 16 years of age he volunteered & joined a Corps called the "Patuxet Rangers", then under command of Colonel Arnold, - Said Corps was an independent Corps, not attached to any Regiment, but was under the immediate command of the Governor of the
[remnants of ribbon at bottom]
Page 7

State, and was chartered by an act of the General Assembly of Rhode Island. It was the duty of said company always to be in readiness to march to whatever station it was commanded, either by the Governor or the General of the Army, having the command in Rhode Island. It also had the principal charge of a fort built in said Village of Patuxet to repel the incursions of the enemy, which were very frequent during the time the British were in possession of Newport. While Rhode Island was the theatre of War, frequent & daring incursions were made all along the shores of Narragansett Bay by the enemy for the purpose of plunder. And the Corps never failed to be among the foremost to repel them, - At this distant period, the applicant cannot say with exactness the precise number of months, he was in actual service nor can he name each month in particular during the following named years, yet he declares that in the year 1779 between January & December
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he served not less than seven months at least as a private and he further avers that in the year 1780 between January & December he served not less than eight months at least, and in the year 1781 between January & December not less than four months at least. - In all these services he was a private in said Corps, and they were all performed in guarding said shores or in garrisoning said fort, except two months in 1779, when they were stationed on Rhode Island at said Newport.
Said James avers that during the above mentioned three years he served nineteen months at least for which he claims a pension under the act aforesaid. He has no documentary evidence of his services but he produces the testimony of John Arnold who served with him & also the testimony of the Rev^d Job Manchester and John W Tibbett [?]  who can testify as to his
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Character. He herby 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 - 
[signature] James Rhodes
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this 13th day of January AD 1834.
Witness C Brayton P. Clk
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We Job Manchester a clergyman residing in Warwick and John W Tibbetts [?] residing in said Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Rhodes who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 69 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 - 
[signatures] Job Manchester
John W. Tibbetts
Jany 13th AD 1834
Sworn to in open Court
Witness C Brayton [?] P Clk
Page 11

I John Arnold of Cranston but being near the said James Rhodes who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration, on oath do testify and [say?] that I was a private in said Corps called the Patuxet Rangers & served therein during the War of the Revolution, & for my services my name has been placed on the pension Roll .
I perfectly well remember that we served together as privates in said Corps about the same length of time during the years mentioned in the above declaration, and I further say that the manner in which said services were performed is accurately stated therein by said James our principal duty was to gard [guard] the shores & stand gard [guard] in the fort & keep a vigilant look out for the enemy
[signature] John Arnold
Jany 13 AD 1834 sworn to in Court
Witness C Brayton P Clk
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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 & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Job Manchester who has signed the preceding certificate is a [word crossed through] Clergyman in said Warwick & that he and the said John Arnold and John W Tibbets are all credible persons and their statement [is] entitled to full credit
I Charles Brayton Clerk of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James Rhodes for a pension - 
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 13th day of Jany AD 1834
[signature] Charles Brayton 
Probate Clk
[seal affixed to the left]
Page 13

State of Rhode Island sc
County of Kent sc
On this 19th day of August AD 1846 personally appeared before me George A Brayton associate Justice of the Supreme Court of said State Betsey Rhodes now resident in Warwick aged seventy six years who being duly sworn according to law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 & other acts in addition thereto March 3 1843 & January 19 1844 viz. Said Betsey declares that she is the widow of James Rhodes late of said Warwick deceased, who was a soldier of the Revolution & when the act of June 7 1832 was passed he applied for & obtained a pension under said act according to the provisions of said act, & to the declaration which he made to obtain said ^pension^ she refers for the account of his service & her right to the same. And she further declares that she was married to the said James on the fourth day of July AD 1790 as will appear by the evidence hereto
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annexed, and she further declares that her husband the said James departed this life October 16th AD 1841, & since she has remained a widow she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four to wit at the time above mentioned, - 
[signature] Betsey Rhodes
State of Rhode Island &c.
I certify that on this 19th day of August AD 1846 personally appeared before me Betsey Rhodes above named and made oath to the truth of the preceding declaration & subscribed the same & that the said Betsey is too infirm to attend or appear in Court.
And I further certify that the paper hereto annexed purporting to be a record of the births of Betsey Rhodes of James Rhodes of their marriage & the births of their children was by me this day cut from the Book referred to in the preceding depositions of Tilly Dorrance & [illegible] A Rhodes and [illegible] also by me hereto annexed in their presence & is the leaf of said Book by them referenced to in said deposition
Geo. A Brayton associate Justice of the Superior Court of said State
Page 15

[ribbon attached at top of page]
Tully [?] Dorrance of Warwick in the County of Kent & State of Rhode Island &c. deposes and says that Betsey Rhodes the declarant is the widow of James Rhodes late of Warwick deceased who was at the time of his death a pensioner of the United States that the said James Rhodes died in said Warwick on the sixteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred & forty one and that she has ever since remained his widow that the birth of the said James and of the said Betsey, their marriage & the births of their children was recorded in the family Bible of the said James by him the said James Rhodes & that the leaf whereon said record was made is hereto annexed
[signature] Tully Dorrance
Subscribed & sworn to by the said Tully Dorrance before me this 19 day of August AD 1846 & I certify that the said Tully Dorrance is a credible person
Geo A Brayton Just of Supreme Court
I Zion [?] A Rhodes of Warwick & the County of Kent & State of Rhode Island deposes & says that he has read the deposition above written [&] subscribed by Tully Dorrance and that the statements therein contained are just and true and [illegible] the record of the death of the said James Rhodes is in his the said Zion A Rhodes own handwriting
[signature] Zion A Rhodes
Subscribed & sworn to by the said Zion A Rhodes before me this 19th day of August AD 1846 & I certify that the said Zion A Rhodes is a credible person
Geo A Brayton Just of Supreme Court
Page 16

James Rhodes was Born the 10th of February 1764
Betsey Rhodes his Wife was Born the 27 march 1770
and were married the fourth of July 1790  - 
Births of their children
Viz. Sion Arnold Rhodes was Born April 11th, 1791 - 
John Rice Arnold Rhodes was Born May2 1794
Sarah Fear Rhodes was Born July 23 1796
John Rice Arnold Rhodes Departed this Life on Sunday February 17 - 1811 - 
James Rhodes died Oct 16th 1847 - 
[Newspaper obituary copy pasted here]
At Cranston, on the 4th inst. in the [55th?]
year of his age, John Rice Arnold, Esq. Few
have [illegible] to the grave, from the private
walks of life, more generally lamented than
this worthy man, and few have more
generally deserved to be; for though his standing
in life ranked him with the opulent, it was
not on them alone he bestowed his regard;
no -- merit alone was the standard by which
he judged mankind, and that he rewarded and
honoured wherever he met it. As a companion, he was the most cheerful as a friend;
the most [illegible]; and in his dealings with the
would, none were more just."
At Smithfield, John Fenner, Esq; formerly
of Providence, in the 79th year of his age.
At Johnston, on the 11th ult. Mrs. Nancy King, the amiable wife of Mr. Wilson King,
in the 47th year of her age.
[End of newspaper article]
[Newspaper article pasted to document]
We noticed several days since the death of the Hon.
JAMES RHODES, of Warwick. The last few months have
been remarkable for the deaths of many of those venerable
men who stood among us as the monuments of an elder
generation, whose guiding hands assisted in the formation
of some of our most cherished institutions, and whose lives
and characters have been impressed upon the State. The
names of the men of this class who have lately departed,
are too fresh in the public memory to require an enumeration.
Few men survive who have been more intimately connected
with the political and commercial history of the
State than JAMES RHODES. From the age of sixteen to the
time of his death, a period of more than 60 years, he was
actively engaged in business, to which he brought a congenial
disposition, a vigorous intellect, and an untiring application, which, by his own exertions, raised him to fortune
and consideration. He early engaged in the manufacturing
business, which now forms so important part of the industry
of this State; and was the first who embarked in
the woolen manufacture in Rhode Island. He was also
early interested in cotton manufacture, and was instrumental
in bringing into use some of the most important improvements
in the art.
In politics he belonged to the federal school. He was
particularly active in favor of the adoption of the Constitution
of the United States, and in opposition to the famous "paper
money party." He was a member of the General Assembly
for twenty seven years, a portion of which time he represented
his native town; and the remainder of which he
passed in the Senate. He was twice elected a member of a
Convention to form a Constitution for the State, and was
once an Elector of President and Vice President.
His political principles were formed in the school of Washington, and he never wavered from them. He maintained
to the last the confidence of his constituents, and retired
from the political field only when advancing age warned
him to seek a retirement more congenial to his personal
comfort; but he ever retained the same ardent interest in
public affairs, and the same strong attachment to his State
and her institutions.
Although but a lad when the British held possession of
Rhode Island, he joined the company from his native town,
under the command of Col. Arnold, and was the youngest
member of the regiment to which he was attached.
His death was sudden an hour before the summons came
he was in the enjoyment of health, and with the prospect of
years before him. He died where he had passed the whole ┃
of his long and useful life, and where his many excellent
qualities and the unaffected kindness of his heart, had won
for him friends in all by whom he was surrounded.
[end of newspaper article
Page 17


[Title page]
THE NEW TESTAMENT

OF OUR
LORD AND SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST.
TRANSLATED OUT OF THE
ORIGINAL GREEK;
AND WITH THE
FORMER TRANSLATIONS
DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED
By His MAJESTY'S Special Command.
Appointed to be Read in CHURCHES.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED by MARK and CHARLES KERR, His Majesty's Printers.
MDCCXCI.
Page 18

13.00
Betsey Rhodes
Widow of James Rhodes RI
Act 7 July 1838
Married 1790
Husband died Oct 1 1841
[illegible]
Page 19

State of Rhode island and Providence Plantations
Providence sc.}
I Albert Greene, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Providence, in said State, do hereby certify that George A. Brayton who has signed the three annexed Certificates bearing date August 9th AD 1846 was on said day, a Justice of the Supreme Court of said State, duly elected.
In attestation whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and have affixed the seal of said Municipal Court, this 29th day of August AD 1846.
[signature] Albert G. Greene,
Clerk
[seal affixed upper left]
Page 20

7955.
Rhode Island
Betsey Rhodes
widow of James Rhodes
who was a private
in the R. Island Line
Husb^d died Oct. 1841.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 63 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Sept. 1846. and sent to
Benjamin Cowell,
Providence
R. Island
[Acts of March 3, 1843 and 17 June 1844]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 2 Page 47. - 
D. H. Woods, Clk
[left page]
Rep^t.
Page 21

[left page]
R.I.
[center page]
22.059
Widow, &c.
File No. 22059
Betsey Rhodes
Widow of
James Rhodes
 Pri Rev War
Act: Feb 27, 48
Index: - Vol. M, Page 160
[Arrangement of 1870.]
[Page on right]
Jany 01 1901
Christopher Rhodes, [illegible]
1914, Apr 29. History to Mrs. F. M. Yates F.N.
Page 22

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of James Rhodes a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (and or widow's) applications for pension on file in this Bureau W. L.22.059
[Table]
[Column titles] / Dates of enlistment or appointment. / Length of Service. / Rank. / Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered. / State. / 
[Line 1] Jan. 1779 / Served at various times until Dec. 1781 amounting to 19 mos. / Pri. / Corps of Rangers / Colonel Arnold / R.I. /
[End of Table]
Battles engaged in, [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Village of Patuxet, Warwick, R.I.
Date of application for pension, Jan. 13, 1834. His cl [claim] was al, [allowed?]
Residence at date of application, Warwick, R.I.
Age at date of application, B. Feb. 10, 1764, Warwick, Kent Co., R.I.
Remarks: He mar. [married] July 4, 1790, Betsey - , who was born Mch. [March] 27, 1770. He died Oct. 16, 1841 at Warwick, R.I. where she also resided when allowed pension on her ap. [application?] ex. [?] Aug. 19, 1846.
Children: Sion Arnold, b. Apr. 11, 1791; John Rice Arnold, b. May 2, 1794, d. Feb. 17, 1811; Sarah Fear, b. July 23, 1796.
Respectfully, [not signed]
Commissioner.
6-2856
Page 23

personal inquiry
Mrs. F. W. Yates
Rochester, N. Y.
data sent
Apr. 29, 1914
Record in claim W.22.059
James Rhodes
April 25, 1914.
Page 24

Shubael Rowlee or ley. [Rowley]
Either N. Y. or PA.
1812.
Page 25

[Round date stamp]
U.S. Pension Office
Jan. 21 1901
Page 26

[Letterhead. Symbol blurred but appears to be Sons of the American Revolution]
Rhode Island Society
[Square stamp: ? & N. Division /Received / Jan 24 1901]
PRESIDENT,
WILLIAM THOMAS CHURCH WARDWELL,
Bristol, R. I.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
ROBERT PERKINS BROWN,
13 CHARLES FIELD STREET
SECRETARY.
CHRISTOPHER RHODES.
290 BENEFIT STREET
TREASURER.
ARTHUR PRESTON SUMNER,
17 CUSTOM HOUSE STREET
REGISTRAR,
GEORGE THOMAS HART.
P. O. Box 1422, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
HISTORIAN.
EDWARD FIELD.
CITY HALL.
CHAPLAIN.
REV. SAMUEL HEBER WEBB.
21 ADELAIDE AVENUE.
POET,
GEORGE ALLEN BUFFUM.
190 HOPE STREET
Providence, R. I. Jan. 18 1901
To the
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir - 
18901,
Please to send the service of the
husband of Mary Rhodes of Warwick Rhode Island,
Her husband's name was Sylvester, He was
in the Navy, was a prisoner on the Jersey Prison
ship, so called, and died from the effects of his
imprisonment at [New Haven?] Conn, where he was
buried. She drew a Pension, and her name
is on the List of Revolutionary Pensioners,
6th Census taken in 1840. She being 85 years old at
that time.
Also please send me the service of
James Rhodes of Warwick R.I. on the same
list
Very Respectfully
Chris^tr Rhodes
Secretary
Page 27

Providence Aug 31 1846
Sir
I herewith enclose the application of Betsey Rhodes widow of James for a pension under the Act of Congress of July 7, 1838.
I am respectfully yours
Benj'n [Benjamin] Cowell
J L Edwards Esq
Page 28

No 1300[illegible] {9053
1222
Betsey Rhodes
Widow of James 
R. I.
Act 7 July 1838
Rejected husband died
October 1841
Adm^d. Act 3 March
1843 and 17 June 1844
19 mo. Pri [Private]
$63.66 per annum
pen 4 march 1843
Benjamin Cowell
Providence
RI
Page 29

James Rhodes
29246
Adm^d 19 March pri [private]
Colo. [Colonel] Arnold
[faint writing]
Was since [illegible]
a commission and by him admitted
Hon. N. R, Knight
Senate U.S.
Page 30

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling [complying] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
 A Statement, shewing the Service of James Rhodes
[Table]
[Column headings] / Period when the service was rendered / Duration of the
claimant's service. / Rank of
claimant. / 
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served. /
Age at present, ┃
and place of abode
when he entered
the service. / 
Proof by which the declaration is supported. /
[No entries in the Table]
I am respectfully
Your obedient servant
JAMES L. EDWARDS.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 31

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers, all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.
The Regular Troops.
2.
The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this
day of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
of
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
with and
served in the
(e) regiment of the
line, under the following named officers:
(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
&c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia.
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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 days and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 32

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
To a Soldier
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
office has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fol-
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
as of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
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
For months and --- days, I served as a -; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 grate 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 that 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 estimable. It must, in every one, be clearly shown 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 all
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
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every can
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pub the
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the contents of the remiss oner who authenticates the person to them the price
contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
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 claimant's 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 with the
official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note il applies to continental troops only-
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Download
Page 33

Betsey Rhodes
ad
7955
admitted
Franklin Greene
Providence
RI
Page 34

State of Rhode Island,
COUNTY of Kent }ss.
On this Eight
day of June
1848,
personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Kent
Betsey Rhodes
a resident of Warwick
in the county of Kent
aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath
make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress,
passed on the 2d of February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war: - That she is the Widow of James Rhodes
who was a Private
in the war of the Revolution, and that she received a pension of Sixty three
dollars & Sixty six Cents per annum, under the act of 17th of June, 1844. She further declares that
she is still a widow.
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me } ss.
[signature] Betsey Rhodes
Joseph H Arnold
Justice of the Peace.
I certify that the above named affiant is personally known to me, and that she is the same individual who
drew a pension as stated by her in the foregoing affidavit.
Joseph H Arnold Justice of the Peace
State of Rhode Island,
COUNTY of Kent } ss.
I Joseph J. Tillinghast Clerk of the Supreme Court
in the county aforesaid, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify,
that Joseph H Arnold is a Justice of the Peace
in the county aforesaid, and is fully authorized to act in said capacity, and that his signatures above written are
genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
said Court, at East Greenwich on this Eighteenth
day of July 1848
Jos. J. Tillinghast Clk/
-