Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16678, John Osborn Butler, Navy (Mass.)
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(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE Navy (Mass)
Butler, John Osborn  
NUMBER S. 16678
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[left side]
order to Mary
[sideways]
Left Pensioner 14 Jany 1833
Richardson
Pensioner 19 May 1835

[right side]
Virginia 29.598
===
Navy
John O. Butler
of Norfolk in the State of Virginia as a Seaman in the [blank] commanded by Captain Rostbin  of the Ship [crossed out: commanded by] Providence in the Navy for 6 months
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 24 Dollars --- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Decr 24 and sent Pensioner Nafaele
---
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 34  84-
semi-and allowance ending 4 Mar: 12.00 
=====
$96-
=====
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk, 
Book E Vol.6 ½ Page 81
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Declaration Jno. Butler in under obtain a pension- 
$104-
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Norfolk Borough 
At a Quarterly Session Court held the 23d day of June 1834 John O. Butler this day appeared in Court and made oath to his declaration in order to enable him to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the United States passed 7th June 1832 which declaration is in these words" Norfolk Borough to wit: 

On this day of June 1834 personally appeared before the Court of Norfolk Borough John O. Butler a resident of the said Borough and State of Virginia aged seventy one 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 7th June 1832 

That he was born on the 6th of August 1763 at Old Town in the State of Massachusetts where he resided until the sixteenth year of his age which he cannot make appear except by his ... oath as he has no record of his age; that whilst he resided at the place last mentioned in the year 1778 the sloop of war Providence came to Edgar Town for the purpose of enlisting seamen as he supposes that he with five others volunteered his services on board of the said vessel in the year 1778 and served in the sd Sloop under the following named officers Captain John P. Rothburn Lieutenants John Machil and John Scranton of the State of Massachusetts and Dukes County 

that he sailed from Edgartown some time in the said year on a six months cruise being the time he shipped for; that while on his cruise in the said Sloop Providence he fell in company with a British transport with three hundred soldiers on board and was engaged for upwards of five hours when the transport struck but a heavy gale coming on she made her escape during the night; that he was in service for six months on board of the said Sloop Providence being the time for which he enlisted; that he was discharged in Boston by the said John P. Rothburn, but that discharge he has lost not considering the preservation of it of much importance he was not as careful as he might have been if he had known it would have been required of him in the event of an application of the present nature and which in fact he had no idea of; that he removed to the Borough of Norfolk after the Revolutionary War in 1786 in which place he has resided most of the time he the said John O. Butler being raised and bought up to the sea service- That there is no one in this place who has any knowledge of his services before mentioned he the said John O. Butler having removed to this place after the war but he annexes hereto the affidavit of Valentine Pease of
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of Dukes County in the State of Massachusetts which he asks may be taken as a part of this his declaration-- He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
John O Butler 

I Valentine Pease of Edgartown in the County of Dukes County and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy one years do on oath testify and declare that I am personally acquainted with John Osborne Butler now resident in the Borough of Norfolk and State of Virginia that he was formerly an inhabitant of this town and near neighbourhood of mine; that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven or eight I saw the United Sloop Providence in the Harbour of Edgartown that the said John Osborne Butler was a seaman performing duty on board said armed Sloop Providence then under the commant of John P. Rothburn Captain and John Scranton and another Lieutenants; that the said Butler sailed in said Sloop on a cruise from sd Edgartown 
Valentine Pease 

Commonth of Massachusetts Dukes County Set. Edgartown June 2d 1834 

Then the above named Valentine Pease personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above written declaration by him subscribed is just and true in all its parts-- Before me Daniel Fellows J.P. 

I John French a Clergyman residing in the Borough of Norfolk do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John O. Butler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides from his own representations to have been a sailor of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion - 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year afsd
John French 

And the Court doth certify it to be 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 Sailor and served as he states- And the Court further certifies it appears to them that John French who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Borough of Norfolk and that his statement is entitled to credit- Virginia
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Virginia Norfolk Borough to wit 

I John Williams Clerk of the Hustings Court of said Borough in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript from the records of the said Court In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at my Office this 21st day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and of our Independence the fifty ninth 
Jno Williams C.C.
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Payments to be made at Richmond Va by Pres U.S. Br Bank Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Va. 

 Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E Vol. 6 1/2 by H H Sylvester Clerk
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WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM. 

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United - States of the 7th June, 1832, Jno. O. Butler of the State of Virginia who was a Seaman on board the Providence during the war of the revolution. is entitled to receive Twenty four dollars and --- cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semiannually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year 

Given at the War Office of the United States , this Sixteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four John Smyth Acting Secretary of War. 

Examined and Countersigned. } 
J L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.
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Va Aug 26
[postmark] NORFOLK VA AUG 22

Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington
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D. for Norfolk August 22 1834 

Your letter of the 15th Inst informing me that my amended Declaration had not been received at Washington, I recd yesterday - the same was amended as directed I forwarded the last of June or the first of July, but for what cause the same was not rec'd-- I am unable to say-- Howard I enclose the copy from the records of the Ct before which the same was made - hope, that you will attend to the said as soon as you possibly can
Yours very respectfully 
John O. Butler
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John O. Butler, Act '32
sent the 4 March 1835
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Richmond Apl 26th, 1837 
J.L. Edwards Comr of Pensions 

Dear Sir, I send you enclosed the pension papers of John O. Butter who has two years pension due him. His name on the list of Pensioners sent to this Agency is erroneously reported John D Butler, be pleased to correct the error, and if proper direct  the payment of the pension due him
Yours very respectfully 
A Robinson Jr 
by Severally
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Va July 10
[postmark]NORFOLK VA JUL 7

[written sideways, going downward]
Commissr of Pensions
Pension Office 
Washington City

[written sideways, going upward]
Jn. O. Butler
Virginia Am cded

Admit as Seaman
6 mo $24
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D. Sir Norfolk July 7th 1834. 
Enclosed I send you my declaration which I have had amended according to yr direction, or as near as the same can be conformed  to & so far I can pencil in exact conformity with them & which I hope will be sufficient to cause me to receive the benefit I claim under the act of Congress  which I am much in want of 
Hoping this will receive yr speedy attention, 
I am D Sir 
yrs very respectfully 

John O. Butler
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Dec. 8
Valentine Pease Va
[postmark]NORFOLK VA 

[sideways going downwards]Commissioner of Pensions 
Pension Office
Washington City

[sideways going upwards]
Jn O. Butler
Admit as Seaman
6 mos $24-
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Dear Sir  Norfolk Dec. 4th 1834 

according to your Letter of the 1st Sep last I sent on to Massachusetts for the purpose of obtaining the necessary certificates in relation to the respectability of Valentine Pease, whose certificate is filed among the papers I sent on to Washington with the view of obtaining a pension. Pease having been absent from home I was unable to get another certificate from him, but obtained from the magistrate the enclosed certificate with the Clerk's certificate seal of office which I hope will answer the purpose the Certificate originally given me & from which a copy is annexed in my declaration is in the Clerks office of the Borough Court of Norfolk, as the Clerk is not at liberty to give it up- I hope that the enclosed in be sufficient to answer the demand of your letter of the 1st Sept 

Very respectfully yr obt svt. 
John Osborn Butler
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Va May 19 
Commr Pensions 
Pension Office 
Washington City
DC
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D. Sir Norfolk May 15th 1835. 

Pursuant to my Dec: for a Pension for my services during the Revolutionary war, and for six months services on board of the Providence and served as pt  of the U. States during that war you sent me a certificate dated 16th Any 1834 for six months service on board of that ropel being Twenty four dollars pr annum during life, commencing on the 4 March 1831. On the 22 Dec. following you sent me another certificate for the like and payable 4th March sending life, for my services as a seaman in the war of the Revolution. The one dated  in augt I returned by yr directions but previous to that time of receiving yr letter I received is it of $84-00- The Com of Pensions at Richmond is of opinion, that my pay on the certificate commences from the time the other stopped- I consider the first certificate is for amation truly different from the second, the one being for my services on board of the Providence for six months the other for my services as a seaman day the Revolutionary war. I only want what is right I will thank you to file me yr opinion of If I am entitled to it, I want it; if not I have no disposition to claim it. Be pleased to let me hear from you 

Respectfully yrs John O. Butler
24598
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Invalid 
[crossed out: WIDOW &c
Navy
File No. 16678 
John O. Butler Seaman 
Ship Providence 
U.S. Navy Rev. War 
Act: June 7 1832 
Book E Index: --Vol. 6 1/2, Page 4. [Arrangement of 1870.]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dukes County ss Edgartown Novr 15th 1834 
Whereas the Affidavit of Capt Valentine Pease of Edgartown aforesaid, relative to the services of John Osborn Butler, of Norfolk, Virginia, in the navy of the United States, in the revolutionary War, was taken, subscribed and sworn to before me the undersigned , on or about the second day of June last past - I do therefore hereby certify that the aforesaid Valentine Pease is a man of high standing and respectability, that he is a very credible Witness and that in my opinion, full faith and credit ought to be given to his testimony 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first above written Daniel Fellows Justice of the Peace & of the Quorum
Fees for this $0,50 

Dukes County ss. I Cornelius Marchant a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court for said County hereby certify that the above named Daniel Fellows is an acting Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum within and for said County and that the above is his true and genuine signature, and that all his doings in his said capacity, are entitled to full faith and credit in this Commonwealth and else where 

Given under my hand and the seal of the said Court Edgartown Notary A.D. 1834. 
Cornelius Marchant 
Fees 75
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Norfolk Borough, At a Quarterly Session Court held the 23d day of June 1834

John O. Butler this day appeared in Court and made oath to his declaration in order to enable him to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the United States passed 7 June 1832 which declaration is in these words to wit "Norfolk Borough on this day of June 1834 personally appeared before the Court of Norfolk Borough John O Butler a resident of the said Borough and State of Virginia aged seventy one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain to the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 

That he was born on the 6th August 1763 near Old Town in the State of Massachusetts where he resided until the sixteenth year of his age which he cannot make appear except by his oath as he has no record of his age; that whilst he resided at the place last mentioned in the year 1778 the sloop of war Providence came to Edgar town for the purpose of enlisting seaman as he supposes that he with five others voluntered his services on board of the said vessel in the year 1778 and served in the said sloop under the following named Officers Captain John L. Rathburn Lieutenants John Machil and John Scranton of the State of Massachusetts and Dukes County; that he sailed from Edgartown some time in the said year on a six months cruise being the time he shipped for, that while on his cruise in the said Sloop Providence he fell in company with a British transport with three hundred soldiers on board and was engaged for upwards of five hours when the transport struck but a heavy gale coming on she made her escape during the night; that he was in service for six months on board of the said sloop Providence being the time for which he enlisted that he was discharged in Boston the preservations ton by the said John L. Rothburn but that discharge he has lost not considering of it of much importance he was not as careful as he might have been if he had known it would have ever been required of him in the event of an application of the present nature and which in fact he had no idea of. That he removed to the Borough of Norfolk after the Revolutionary war in 1786 in which place he has resided most of the time he the said John O. Butler being raised and brought up to the sea service. That there is no one in this place who has any knowledge of his services before mentioned he the said John O. Butler having removed to this place after the war but he annexes hereto the affidavit of Valentine Pease of Dukes County in the State of Massachusetts which he asks may be taken as a part of this his declaration. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
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a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afsd
John O. Butler 

I Valentine Pease of Edgartown in the County of Dukes County and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy one years do on oath testify and declare that I am personally acquainted with John Osburn Butler now resident in the Borough of Norfolk and State of Virginia that he was formerly an inhabitant of this Town and near neighbour of mine that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven or eight I saw the United-- Sloop Providence in the harbour of Edgar town that the said John Osborne Butler was a seaman performing duty on board said armed Sloop Providence then under the command of John L. Rothburn Captain; and John Scranton and another Lieutenants; that the said Butler sailed in said Sloop on a cruise from sd Edgartown. Valentine Pease

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dukes County set Edgartown June 2d 1834. 

Then the above named Valentine Pease personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above written declaration by him subscribed is just and true in all its parts, before me. 
Daniel Fellows J.P." 

I John French a clergyman residing in the Borough of Norfolk do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John O. Butler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy one years of age-- that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides from his own representations to have been a sailor of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion-- sworn and subscribed the day and year afsd
John French 

And the Court doth certify it to be 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 sailor and served as he states- And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John French who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Borough of Norfolk and that his statement is entitled to credit. 

Virginia Norfolk Borough to wit: 

I John Williams Clerk of the Hustings Court of said Borough in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript from the
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the records of said Court. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at my Office on this third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and of the Independence of the United States the fifty eighth 
Jno. Williams