Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,712, James Congdon, R.I.
Page 1

Service                                                      Number
R.I.                    Congdon, James             S. 21,712
Page 2

Rhode Island 
James Congdon
of (illegible) on the State of R. Island
to was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hopkins of the Regt commanded by -------------- in the R. Island line for 19 months


Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension is found the 26th day of (illegible) 
1833 and (illegible) (illegible) (illegible) 

Annum to the 4th of Sept 1833 $158.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 34 $31.67
                                                                --------
                                                                $190.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by D.D. Addison
Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 1

(illegible) July 7, 1839
Page 3

Additional Statement
of James Congdon
Page 4

State of Rhode Island
Kent County
On this fifteenth day of November AD. 1833 personally appeared before Nathan Whiting, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Kent, James Congdon, resident of Warwick in the County of Kent, an Applicant for a Pension, who first being duly sworn, doth on his oath, say that during the time of his service in the Revolutionary War under Captain Hopkins, Nathaniel Brown was Colonel of the Regiment; Yelverton Waite, was the Major; and Thomas Gorton was the Brigadier General, who commanded the Brigade to which he was attached, and that he does not now recollect of any other field officers under whom he served while he belonged to Capt. Hopkins' Company.
                                                  James Congdon

Kent (illegible)
Subscribed and sworn to by James Congdon at East Greenwich, the day and year above written
Before me, Nathan Whiting, Just. Peace
Kent of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Nathan Whiting Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the town of East Greenwich in the county of Kent, that the above is his proper signature in his own handwriting and that full faith & credit is & ought to be given to all his official oaths ~~

In witness where of I have hereunto subscribed 
my name and affixed the seal of said court at East Greenwich this sixteenth day of November 
A.D. 1833. 
John Brown, Clk (Clerk)
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James Congdon
Nathan Whiting Agent
East Greenwich, R. Island

26975
Page 6

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
Court of Probate of the Town of Warwick in said County - 

On this eighth day of July A.D. 1833. Personally appeared before the Court of Probate of the Town of Warwick in the County of Kent, being a Court of Record, James Congdon, a resident of said Warwick, aged seventy-nine years who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, June 7th, 1832.   That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 
That he was born at Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island, on the twenty third day of November A.D. 1753.  And resided there twenty-three years or upwards; and then removed to the town of West Greenwich in the county of Kent, where he resided until the month of June A.D. 1823. when he removed to said Warwick, where he has ever since resided.  That he has in his possession a Record of his age.  That in the month of December 1776 he was drafted and served as a private in a Company of Militia, commanded by Capt. Jonathan Bates, one month at Wickford in North Kingstown, Col. Dyer commanded the Regiment.  That afterwards in the Winter of 1777 he was drafted in said Company and served one month more at Quidnessett neck in North Kingstown.  That in the Spring of the same year he served another month in said Company at Boston neck so called in North Kingstown and also in the forepart of the summer of the same year he was again drafted and served.
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...served in the same Company one month at  Quidnessett Neck in said North Kingstown.  That soon after he removed from Exeter to West Greenwich and was there enrolled in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Samuel Hopkins and was drafted in said company and served on month in the Fall of the year 1777.  Tiverton and Little Compton in General Spencer's expedition.  That in the year 1778 he was drafted in said company four several times and served a month each time.  That he was stationed two months of the time at Quidnessett Neck in North Kingstown.  One month on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's expedition and one month at East Greenwich.   That in the year 1779 he was drafted in the same company according to the best of his recollection, four several times and served no less than a month each time at East Greenwich and Quidnessett Neck.   That in the year 1780 he was drafted at four several times and served in said company and served two months, one month at East Greenwich and one month at Tiverton.   That in addition to the foregoing regular tours of service, he ....
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...he was repeatedly in the course of the war, called out on sudden alarms and served on these occasions not less than one month more in all.   Making in the whole not less than twenty months of actual military service in the Revolutionary War for which he claims a pension.  That he has no documentary evidence or written discharge. 
He hereby 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.     
James Congdon

Subscribed and sworn to in open court this day and year aforesaid

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 that he served as he states. 

I Charles Brayton, Clerk of said Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Congdon for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said court this eight day of July in the year 1833. 
Charles Brayton
Probate Clerk
Page 9

Deposition of 
John Congdon
26.976 (crossed out)
Page 10

I John Congdon of Exeter, in the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island am seventy-six years of age.  James Congdon, now residing in Warrick, in the County of Kent, in this state, an applicant for a pension, is my brother, and I have been acquainted with him from my childhood - During the Revolutionary War, we served often together in the cause of our Country - In 1776 we both lived in the town of Exeter and were enrolled as Privates, in a Company of Militia, belonging to said tours, of which Jonathan Bates was Captain, Stephen Whitman Lieut., Oliver Spink Ensign after the British took possession of Newport, which  was in December, 1776 we were called out, and marched down to the Village of Wickford and stationed there for the term of one month.  I served as Sargeant and he as a private.  We were afterwards stationed together in 1777, a month in North Kingstown and another month in Boston & a month in Judith's Neck, all these tours of duty were in the Winter, Spring & Summer of 1777.   In the Fall of that year, he served into the town of West Greenwich, in the County of Kent and the Company (unintelligible) to which we had belonged and stationed over to 
Tiverton & little Compton in the time of General Spencer's expedition, I was with the company and whilst there I saw him doing duty in the same place, in a company of militia from West  
Greenwich, of which Samuel Hopkins was Captain.
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and he served out his term there - at the time of General Sullivan's expedition, in August 1778, I was on the Island of Rhode Island, and was a sergeant in a company of state troops, of which Benjamin West was Captain, belonging to Colonel Topham's regiment & whilst there I saw him doing duty in a company of militia from West Greenwich and he served out his term of one month.  I have no further knowledge of his services as he was in another county. 
John Congdon

Washington - in North Kingstown
July First, 1833
Personally appeared before me the (unintelligible) one of the Justices of the Peace for the town of North Kingston, the above conscribed John Congdon who after being by me, duly examined and sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, gave the foregoing deposition, what's now by me reduced to writing in his presence and by him subscribed in my presence - And I further certify that the said John Congdon is well known to me and that his character for truth & veracity is good and his deposition entitled to credit. 

Sylvester G. Shearman
Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Washington Sc    Clerks office Court of Common Pleas. 

I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that Sylvester G. Sherman Esq. whose signature on his own proper hand writing is hereto prefixed is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of North Kingstown in the county of Washington legally chosen by General Assembly 
commissioned by the Govenor & otherwise qualified as the law requires that full faith and credit ought to be given to his attestation) throughout the United States of America. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the courts aforesaid this third day of July in the year. 1833. 

Sam'l (Samuel) Helme Clerk
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26975
James Congdon
March 19 monthly

The claimant (unintelligible) states the names of (unintelligible) all the field officers under when he served when attached to Capt. Hopkin's company. 
63.33
      2
______
126.66
31.27
______
158.39

Pension office
Mar 5 1833

Hon. T. Burgess Esq
Ltr
N. White Esq (crossed out) 
East Greenwich   R.I.  (crossed out)
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Mar. 5, 1833

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 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

A STATEMENT, shewing the Service of James Congdon.

Period when the service was recorded - 1776
Duration of the claimant's service - 1 month
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Bates
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service - 79

Period when the service was recorded - 1777
Duration of the claimant's service - 1 month
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Dyre

Period when the service was recorded - 1777
Duration of the claimant's service - 1 month
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Dyre

Period when the service was recorded - 1777
Duration of the claimant's service - 1 month
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Dyre

Period when the service was recorded - 1777
Duration of the claimant's service - 1 month
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

Period when the service was recorded - 1778
Duration of the claimant's service -4 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

Period when the service was recorded - 1779
Duration of the claimant's service -4 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

Period when the service was recorded - 1780
Duration of the claimant's service -4 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

Period when the service was recorded - 1781
Duration of the claimant's service -2 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

Period when the service was recorded - 1778
Duration of the claimant's service -1 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served - Capt. Hopkins

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant, 
J.L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions
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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, musicians 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
            ss.

On this (blank) day of (blank) personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of (blank) in the county of (blank) and State, Territory or District of (blank) aged (c)  (blank) 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) (blank), with (blank) and served in the (blank) (e) regiment of the (blank) 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 country 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 (blank).   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. 
I (blank) of the Court of (blank) do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of (blank) for a pension. 
    In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this (blank) day of (blank) &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 (blank) and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with (blank) who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be (blank) 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 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 (blank) and that C.D. who has also signed the same is a resident in the (blank) and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.   
      I, (blank) Clerk of the Court of (blank) do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of (blank) for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this (blank) day of (blank) &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 many 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 ...
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(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 on the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one can 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. 
   6.  To a soldier:   Did you ever receive a dis-
        charge from the service, and if so, by 
        whom was it given and what has become 
        of it?
        To an officer:   Did you ever receive a 
        commission, and if so, by whom was it
        signed, and what 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 in 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 of 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 Country, 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 his genuine signature. 
     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 the case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, take 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. 

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, 
unless prevented from doing so by reason 
 of bodily infirmity, in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.

(b) 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 conforming to the rule. 

(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 

(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 

(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise, a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant bust state, with prevision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine wot hat amount of pension he is entitled.  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."
     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 to 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 objectionable.  It must, in every case, 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 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. 
     (f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
     (g) The opinion of the Court is always required. 
     (h)  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
     (i)  The Clerk must fix 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 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. 

      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 papers 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. 

               PROOF OF SERVICE
      (j) 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 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 witnessed and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
>>>>> The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by the rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only. 
     (k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
     (l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
     (m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 17

May 10, 1928

Dorothy M. Congdon
4139 N. 8th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Madam:

     I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 21712, it appears that James Congdon was born November 23, 1753, at Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island. 
     He enlisted in December 1776, served at various times on short tours, about twenty months in all, during each succeeding year until in 1781, as a private under Captains Johnathan Bates and Samel Hopkins, Colonels Chrles Dyer and Nathaniel Brown, in the Rhode Island Troops, and was in General Spencer's and Sullivan's expeditions. 
     When he first enlisted he was living in Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island, and during his service, in the summer of 1777, he moved to West Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island, where he lived until Jun3 1833, then moved to Warf   rick, Kent County, Rhode Island.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
     He was allowed pension on his application, executed July 8, 1833, while he was a resident of Warwick, Kent  ...
Page 18

County, Rhode Island.
He died July 7, 1839.
It is not stated whether soldier was ever married. 

Owing to the very large number of inquiries similar to yours, and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the Bureau is unable to make immediate reply to requests pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution.  Letters are being answered as rapidly as possible in order of receipt. 

Respectfully, 

Winfield Scott
Commissioner


He had brother John who served with him.
Page 19

April 10, 1928

U.S. Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. 

Gentlemen: -

Sometime ago I wrote you making inquiry concerning one James Congdon, about whom I had the following information. 

Born Exeter, R.I. Nov. 23, 1753.  He enlisted December 1776 in Capt. Jonathan Bates' Company and served twenty months.  He became a pensioner placed on the pension roll December 26, 1833.

I would very much appreciate a reply from you giving me what information your records may show. 

Very truly yours, 
Dorothy M. Congdon
4139 N. 8th Street, 
Philadelphia, Pa.
Page 20

(Letterhead)
Dorothy M. Congdon
4139 North Eight Street
Philadelphia, PA. 

August 11, 1927

The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C. 

Sir:

I am interested in obtaining a copy of the record of my great, great, great grandfather James Congdon, who served in the Revolutionary War and was a pensioner.   I have the following information concerning him:

Born at Exeter, R.I. Nov. 23, 1753
Enlisted December 1776 in Capt. Jonathan Bates
Co. and served 20 months.  Was placed on pension roll Dec. 26, 1833.    (Copied from Military Census, R.I.)

Will you please send me a copy of his record and if there is any charge for same, advise me and I shall be glad to forward a check. 

Very truly yours, 
Dorothy Congdon
Page 21

Waterman, Illinois
July 9, 1901

Dear Sir:

Do your records show anything concerning the revolutionary record of James Congdon of North Kingston R.I., born 1741.   He never drew a pension, but I am told he applied for one. Do your records show on what ground(s) he made application?

Yours respectfully, 
G.E. Congdon


Stamps:

July 17, 1901
Received

US Pension Office 
July 11 1901
Page 22

LEFT SIDE OF PAGE:

Revolution  21712

INVALID
File No.  21,712
James Congdon
Priv. Rev War

Act:  June 7th '32
Index: - Vol 2, Page 77

{Arrangement of 1870}


RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE:

July 23, 1901  G.E. Congdon
given history  - Th. B

1928 - May 10, Hist. to Dorothy M. Congdon - M.E.E.
Page 23

Affidavit of Pardon Tillinghast
Page 24

I, Pardon Tillinghast, as clergyman, residing in East Greenwich in the county of Kent and state of Rhode Island, aged sixty three years, do hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with James Congdon, now of Warwick in the county of Kent, but formerly a resident of West Greenwich in said county, for many years;  That since my acquaintance with him, which has been for more than thirty five years past, he has uniformly sustained good character for truth, so far as he come to my knowledge;  that I believe him to be of the age of seventy nine years;  that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion. 
Pardon Tillinghast


State of Rhode Island
Kent County 

Subscribed and sworn to before me at East Greenwich this eighth day of July A.D. 1833 and I do certify that the Deponent is a clergyman regularly constituted and ordained and officiates as such. 
Witness Nathan Whiting J. Peace

Kent - the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations I certify that Nathan Whiting Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the town of East Greenwich in the county of Kent, that the above is his proper signature in his own handwriting & that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal of office at East Greenwich this eighth day of July in the year 1833. 
John Brown
Clk  (Clerk)
Page 25

Deposition of 
Oliver Spink -
Page 26

I Oliver Spink of North Kingston, in the County of Washington, on solemn affirmation, do testify and say, that I am most seventy-eight years of age nearly, wanting only a few days during the Revolutionary War, I was acquainted with James Congdon now a resident of Kent, Warrick (unintelligible) then a resident of Exeter.   In the winter of 1776 & 1777, he served as a private in the Militia Company, belonging to said Exeter, of which Jonathan Bates was Captain, Stephen Whitman Lieut. (Lieutenant) and I Ensign, the Company was stationed during that time at Wickson, in Boston & Quidnesset Neck, one month at each place and I served the whole time, and I well remember, that James Congdon was on duty with me, part of the time and I think the whole time.  I have often heard an understood during the war that he served at other times and other places and in particular that he was on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition.
Olive Spin


Washington - In North Kingston - June 4th, 1833 -
Personally appeared before me the above Oliver Spink & after being by me, duly examined and (unintelligible) made solemn affirmation to the truth of the above statement, which was set to writing by me in his presence & by him (unintelligible) in my presence - I further certify that the said Oliver Spink is well known to me & that his character for truth and veracity is good & his statements entitled to credit. 

Sylvester G. Shearman
Justice of the Peace
Page 27

State of Rhode (Island) & Providence Plantations -
Washington Sc's Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas - 

I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that Sylvester G. Sherman Esq.  whose signature in his own proper handwriting is hereto prefixed is a Justice of the Peace for the town of North Kingstown in the County of Washington legally chosen by the General Assembly commissioned by the Govenor and otherwise qualified as the law requires that set forth and credit ought to be given to his attestation throughout the United States of America. 

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid this sixth day of June 1833
Sam'l (Samuel) Helme 
Clerk