Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12113., Christopher Bates, R. I.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
R.I.

Bates, Christopher

NUMBER S.12113.

Carded

CONTENTS
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18.785
Vermont

Christopher Bates
Rutland Co. Vermont
pri & Corpl in the company
Captain Safford [illegible]
Col Thompson in the R. I. militia
for 17 1/2 mo/pri
6 1/2 mo as corp
Roll of Vermont
82 dollars 16 cents
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

3 day of October 1833 and sent to
Jno Kellogg. Benson
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - $205.41
allowance ending 4 March '34 -      41.08
                                                     $246.59 [.49]
W. L. Williams
Book 8, vol. 3. page 54
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State of Vermont
Rutland County
Probate districct [district] Fairhaven in said State fr.
On their 3d day of July- AD. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Probate court of said Fairhaven Probate district now sitting Christopher Bates a resident of Benson in said Rutand county and Fairhaven Probate District aged seventy four years who 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 passed June 7th, 1832  viz. that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That he enlisted in June 1776 at Coventry Rhode Island into the Rhode Island State Troops [^ for three months] That Lieut. William Dyer enlisted him; the Capt. of the company into which he enlisted was sick, and was not in service during the three months his name was [illegible] That the said Lieut. Dyer & Lieut. Helms were attached to the same company, that he immediately on this enlistment entered the service & served the three months in the same company, that he was in no battle during this enlistment, that immediately on said enlistment he was marched from said Coventry to Roxbury in Massachusetts...he thinks Genl. Putnam was at or near Roxbury.
That he again engaged  for one month [underlined] as a substitute for a man of the name of Wilcox who resided in said Coventry & were marched to Greenwich Rhode Island. Believes Capt. Safford commanded the company he was in, In that on his arrival at Greenwich he was taken sick & did no active service during the month, by reason of sickness. 
That in Dec. 1776 he again enlisted into the Rhode Island State troops for fifteen months [underlined] that he was by the same Lieut. Dyer above named, that he was enlisted at said Coventry, that at the time of his enlisting he had a furlough for fifteen days, and at the expiration of the fifteen days he joined, the same company to which said Lieut. Dyer was attached. Capt. Phanear (this may be incorrect) commanded the company. The company was attached to a Regt. commanded by Col. Thompson, the Regt. was stationed at Howlands Ferry (so called.) That he resided at said Coventry when he was so enlisted as last aforesaid he was engaged in several skirmishes, but in no regular battle;
that during this said enlistment he was stationed at Howlands and Faulklands or Faglands Ferry.  That
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he served out the fifteen months under the last mentioned enlistment, but does not recollect that he received any written discharge; 
That just before the expiration of the last mentioned enlistment he again enlisted in March 1778 (being mistaken in his statement of the year made in his former declaration) into the same company & under the same officiant, for (next two words are underlined) one year more, that on his last enlisting he received a furlogh for fifteen days, at the expectation of which he returned to headquarters at Howlands Ferry, and served out the one year last served. That Genl. Sullivan commanded and the proofs (this may be incorrect) to which be this declarant belonged same [unknown] of the year last [unknown]. that(sic) Col. Toppin commanded this Regt. to which he was attached, and Lieut. Col. Barton was attached to the same Regt. Major Genl. [unknown] and Brig. Genl. Cornell (as I understood) were officers belonging to the said state troops but whether they were (unknown] , I don't recollect. That according to his best recollection, some time in Oct. same year 1778. The Regt. to which he belonged were [unknown] on to the [unknown] of Newport, and were under the command of Genl. Sullivan, that he was in the Battle of Newport between main guard and the British, which lasted near all day; we fought from a [unknown] until we arrived back to our main army. That when the guard arrived where our main army were, they found them entrenched and [unknown] for battle, that after we had to [unknown] the British company lay in sight [unknown] night & [unknown] day [unknown] there was no fighting. [Unknown] then Genl. Sullivan [illegible] his company off from the Island of New-port and returned to Howlands Ferry. 
That he was a corporal from the 1st Sept. 1778 to the time of his discharge 15th March 1779 being six & one half months. That in the [unknown] [unknown] of the winter 1778-9 he, as a corporal and one Sergeant & six [unknown] were detached from the company to which he belonged, as a life guard to Genl. Sullivan, the whole company of the life guard he believes was about ninety in number, that the company so detached went with Genl. Sullivan to where the company were stationed [inserted above the previous words: (Providence, Rhode Island) ] & did service as his life guard, until they were discharged which time he believes wsas 15th March 1779. That Genl. Sullivan wrote his discharge with his own hand that he brot(sic) it home with him, that it is now
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lost or [unknown], that he has searched and cannot find it, that he has no recollection of having seen it within forty years. that (sic) during the period of the last enlistment herein named he was in a battle at Bristol Rhode Island. Lieut. Col. Barton commanded, that Col. Barton was wounded & he helped pick him up & put him aboard of a (word crossed out) carriage, Sergt. [unknown] [unknown] him, that in this battle the British [unknown] and went on board their shipping, that the life guard [unknown] returned to seas (this may be incorrect) commanded Capt. Mann.
That he has no documentary evidence to his service. That he can [unknown] by the affidavit of Caleb Blanchard who was in the same regiment, that this declarant (word "that" crossed out) was reported to be in the company at Howlands Ferry. that (sic) said Blanchard is very old & [unknown], and has in a great degree lost his necessary, that this [unknown] will (inserted above: {unknown]seeing) ^ 2d Blanchard is the [unknown] at Howlands Ferry in 1778. and (sic) this declarant knows of no other (inserted above: pension) by whom he can finance his service.  That this declarant  [unknown] (inserted above: by whom he can finance his service) [unknown] at South Kingston Rhode Island [unknown] .9.1759. The record of his age is in his bible that (sic) he knows of no other record of his age.
That he was living at said Coventry at each time when called into service.
That since the Revolutionary War he has lived in Shaftsbury & in Rutland Vermont and for the last twenty three years he has lived in Benson Vermont where he now lives.
That he volunteered his service in the Revolutionary Army at each of the times he enlisted as aforesaid, and never enlisted as a substitute for another except for the one [unknown] aforesaid. That he has herein stated the manner of the regular officers who were with the [unknown] where he served so far as he [unknown] recollects, as also the general circumstances of his service. he (sic) does not recollect of been (sic) receiving any written discharge from the service except the one he has mentioned.
he (sic) states the manner of Oliver Boot & Henry S. Easton to whom he is known in the neighbourhood (sic) where he resides who can testify as to his character for truth & [unknown] and the therein belief of his services as a solider of the Revolution. 
That he knows of no person by whom he can furnace (sic) direct by his services in the war of the Revolution except so far as this affidavit of Caleb Blanchard herewith sent furnaces (sic) the fact. He hereby relinquishes every claim
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whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Christopher Bates (illegible mark) his mark
[Unknown] [unknown] Kellogg sworn to & subscribed the day & year before me.
 We Dan Kent a Clergyman (this may be incorrect) residing (this may be incorrect) in Benson, Rutland County [unknown] & Henry S. Easton residing in the [inknown] [unknown] (inserted above: of Benson) h[unknown] certify that we are well acquainted with Christopher Bates who has [unknown] & [unknown] to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is in [unknown] & believed in the neighborhood  [unknown] he [unknown] to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we [unknown] in that [unknown]
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Dorn [unknown]
Henry S. Easton
and (sic) the said count (sic) do hereby declare their [unknown] after this investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories [unknown] by the [unknown] [unknown] meant, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the [unknown] further certifies that it appears to them that Dan Kent who has signed the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Benson, [unknown] and that Henry S. Easton who has also signed the same is a resident in the [unknown] [unknown] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Selah H. Merrill [unknown, faded] of the court of Probate do [unknown] certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings in of the said account in the matter of the application of  Christopher Bates for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this (smudged) 2(scribbled superscript) day of (word crossed out) (possibly July) D. 1833. 
S.H. Merrill
(written in right margin, vertically: 11301. Christopher Bates)
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12.113
Invalid.

File No. 12,113
Christopher Bates
Corpal. Rev. Wat

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 23
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Bates
Can't find the name on the Vermont list of applicants
505.66
1.66
23.83
82.15
164.33
41.08
205.41
[crossed out: illegible]
22.
1.83
23.83
says he applied under act of 1818 and rejected pri/21 months
adm'd by Commr
6 1/2 months Corporal
17 1/2 " Private

Jno Kellogg Binion Clk
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11.301

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Christopher Bates which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the country where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

not clearly-

V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in hit neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

no clergyman - but others -

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

none -

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

no-

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?

none as to the facts of service

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

no-

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered?


Explanatory Notes.
*QUERE V. in a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year ______ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For ______ months and _______ days, I served as a _________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3
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 son of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly 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. 
[this paragraph is bracketed] QUERE XIV. Proof of Service In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass attached to the certificate. under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 
The applicant must produce proof of his service if he can, if not he must confirm shortly with the regulations- Must also state how long he was a Corporal
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Affidavit of Caleb Blanchard of Brandon in the county of Rutland and state of Vermont in relations to Christopher Bates [illegible] in the revolutionary war the statement made by P. bates in his written [illegible] is substantially true and I have no doubt P. Bates was in the army as thine stated. But I do not recall it [illegible] him I think he was not in the same company with me I think we were together as soldiers in the army at Howlands Ferry or Tivertown so called in the year 1774 we belonged to Col Toppins Regiment Liut Col Barton was attached to the same Regiment the year before and it was call'd [illegible]

Caleb Blanchard

Hale of Vermont
Rutland County

Rutland July 26th 1832
Sworn to before me
[illegible]

State of Vermont
Rutland County

I Robert [illegible] clerk of the county [illegible] for the county of Rutland do certify here Clemency [illegible] Esq is a justice of the peace for said county
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State of Vermont Rutland County ss} I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Chauncy Thrall is a Justice of the peace for said County and that his Signatures to the within certificate are genuine 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland this 17th July A.D. 1833 
R. Pierpoint
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State of Vermont Rutland County} Probate District of Fairhaven in said State ss, 
On this 10th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Probate Court of said Fairhaven probate district now sitting Christopher Bates, a resident of Benson in said Rutland County, and Fairhaven probate district, aged seventy three years, who, 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, passed June 7th 1832, viz: That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, viz: he thinks he enlisted for three months in June 1776, into the Rhode Island State Troops; that Lieut. William Dyer Enlisted him; the Capt was sick, and was not in service during the three months; that Lieut Helms was in the same company; that he immediately entered the service on this enlistment, and left the service at the end of his enlistment; at the time of said enlistment he resided in Coventry, Rhode - Island, and did not enlist as a substitute for another; that he was in no battle during this enlistment; that he marched from said Coventry to Roxbury in Massachusetts; that he thinks Genl Putnam was the Major General; that he has now no documentary evidence in relation to his service during this enlistments; that between the time of the expiration, in June 1776, and December 1776, of said enlistment, he again engaged in the service of said State troops for one month as a substitute for a man of the name of Wilcox, then residing in said Coventry, and went to Greenwich, Rhode Island and was immediately taken sick, and did no actual service under the last mentioned engagement; that in Dec. 1776 he enlisted into the Rhode Island State troops for fifteen months; that he was enlisted at this time by Lieut Dyer above named; had a furlough for fifteen days, and then joined Col. Thompsons Regt at Howlands ferry; Capt Thomas then commanded the company to which he was attached, Lieut. Dyer and Helms were also officers in the same company; that he resided in Coventry at the time he enlisted as herein last named; that he enlisted on his own account and not as a substitute; that during this last enlistment he was engaged in several skirmishes but in no regular battle; that he was stationed at Howlands and Foglands or Southland Ferry during the period of this enlistment; that he belonged to Col. Toppins Regt; Lieut Col Barton was attached to the same regiment; that he was under Major Gen Spencer, & Brig Genl Cornell; - that he served out the fifteen months under this enlistment, but does not recollect as he received any written discharge; That just before the expiration of the last mentioned enlistment, he again enlisted (as he thinks, in March 1777.), into the same company, and under the same officers for one year more; that he received a furlough for fifteen days, at the expiration of which he returned to head quarters at Howlands ferry, and served out the one year last named; that Genl Sullivan commanded the troops at Howland Ferry some part of the year last mentioned; - he thinks some time in Oct. of the same year, the troops, to which he was attached, were ordered to Newport, and were under the command of Genl Sullivan; - That he was in the battle of Newport between our main guard and the British; that the troops to which he was attached were ordered to retreat, and did retreat to our main army; that when they arrived where our army were, they found them entrenched and prepared for battle; that the British army were in sight one night and one day, but there was no fighting;-- that then Genl Sullivan moved his army off from the Island of Newport, and returned to Howlands Ferry; that he was a corporal in
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the company to which he was attached during some part of the last year
for which he was enlisted, that in the forepart of the winter 1777, he was
detached as one of Genl. Sullivans life guard, that he thinks the life guard
consisted of one sergeant, one corporal, and six privates from the company, 
to which he was attached; the whole number of the company, as he
thinks, was about ninety; that he went with Genl. Sullivan to Providence,
Rhode Island, where the company were stationed, and did service as his 
life guard until they were discharged, which time as he thinks was 15th
March 1778; that Genl. Sullivan wrote his discharge with his own hand;
he has seached and cannot find it, that he has no recollection of 
having seen it within forty years; that during the period of the last enlist-
ment above named, he was in a battle at Bristol, Rhode Island, Col.
Barton commnanded, and ws there wounded, that he helped to pick him
and put him aboard of a carriage, Sergeant Lewis assisted him,
 that in this battle the British retreated, and went on board their shipping;
that the life guard above referred to was commanded by Capt Mann.
That he bears no document ary evidence to prove his 
service, that he can prove by Caleb Blanchard
that he & this applicant were together in the 
army at Harrelson Ferry in 1778, that he was 
born in South Kingston Rhode Island, was born
Jan 9 1759.  The record of his age is in my
Bible.  I know of no other record of it.  When called into
service he lived in Coventry Rhode Island, has lived
in Shaftsbury, Rutland & for the last twenty -two
years have lived in Benson Vermont where he 
now lives.  Always volunteered my services in
the revolutionary army.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension an annuity except the present
and declares that his name is not on the pen-opher Bates 
sion roll of the agency of any state, that he
applied for a pension under the act of 1818
but his claim was rejected on account of his 
service being merely in miliitia service.
Witness John Kellogg [signature]
Christopher Bates X his mark
We Oliver Root & Henry S. Easton both of Benson
aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquain
ted with Christopher Bates who has subscribed & sworn
to the above declaration, that we believe him  
to be seventy three years of age; that he is respected and  
believed in the neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the
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And the said court do hereby declare this opinion after
the investigation of the matter, and after putting the inter-
rogations 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 Oliver Root and Henry S Easton who have signed
the preceding certificate are united in Benson aforesaid, and are credible persons and that this statement is en-
titled to credit.
I Silas H. Merrill Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of this appli-
cation of Christopher Bates for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my
hand and Seal of Office this 10th day of Au-
gust AD 1832.  S. H. Merrill