Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8600, Thomas Church, R. I.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
R.I.

Church, Thomas
Molly

NUMBER
W 8600

CONTENTS
Page 2

(left side)
26.
Rhode Island
Molly Church
widow of Thomas Church who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of Decr. 48 and sent to Hon. R. B. Cranston Hos. of Reps

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act (torn off)d July 1848, Page 105 Vol. 1 book D

(right side)
Reported 
Let to Hon R. B. Cranston Jany 6 49
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21,949
Rhode Island
Thomas Church of Bristol in the State of Ro. Island who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Throop of the Regt. commanded by Col. Thomas in the New Hamp. line for 17 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Rh. Island at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Nov. 1833 and sent to J Cross Portsmouth

Arrears to the 4th of Sep '33  $141.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M '34  28.33
$169.99

Revolutionary Claim. Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Go C Stiles Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 1. Page 105.
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State of Rhode Island County of Bristol SS
On the 7th day of October - 1833 personally appeared n open court, before the judges or justices of the Court of Probate, for the Town of Bristol in the County of Bristol, a court of Record, now sitting, Thomas Church a resident of said Bristol, in the State of Rhode Island, aged seventy two 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 United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, that is to say - At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, I was a young man and resided in the family of my father in said Bristol, on that part called Poppasquash, and near the water = Before I was old enough to be liable to do militia duty, in the year 1775 I volunteered to go on to Prudence, at the time that Prudence was burnt. in the fall of that year by Sir James Wallace, We got on the day after the battle, I went on twice in the same fall afterwards - and was under arms for several times for short periods of service, before it came my time to serve regularly in the militia - but the number of times, or the length of time in each, I am now quite unable to state - At the time Wallace fired on Bristol in the fall of the year 1775 - he did not forget my fathers house, though it stood singly and alone on the opposite side of the Harbour, and pierced it with three cannon shot, - My mother then in delicate health fled to Warren on foot = This wanton act, perhaps was done for the reason that my Father, the late Saml. Church Esqr. had become notorious for his efforts in the cause of his country - 

In February 1777, I was enrolled and belonged to the militia company n sd. Bristol. then under the command of Capt. William Throop of which Company Joseph Reynolds and Jonathan Dimond were Lieutenants - this company, at that time, was divided into two classes and served by monthly turns, at the guard posts in sd. Bristol, relieving each other, at the expiration of the month's service - owing to old age and the consequent loss of memory, I cannot be precise, in stating the exact time I served in the public service, but according to the best of my recollection I served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the grade of a private, and that during that time "H was not engaged in any civil pursuits - in the month of April 1777 it became my turn to serve one month in the public service, and was ordered to the guard post at Poppasquash Point under Capt. Throop, during this months service and the four succeeding months service, I was engaged a part of the time, in helping build the barracks and fort on Poppasquash Point. Again in the months of June, August, October, and December 1777 I served
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four tours of one month each - In the months of Feby, April, and June 1778 I served three tours of one month each in sd. Bristol - In August 1778 I went on to Rhode Island in the first division of our Company, and joined the Army under Genl. Sullivan - One part of the company was put under Capt. Vine Allen and the Lt. of our Company Joseph Reynolds, we crossed Mount Hope Bay to Tiverton, and thence on to Rhode Island from Howland's ferry after our month was out, we were discharged. being relieved by the other half of our company. We were under Col. Miller at this time - I remember to have seen Genl. Cornell and Col. Crary and Col. Topham, whom I knew, and many others whom I did not know - In the months of October and December 1778 I served two tours of one month each in sd. Bristol - And in the months of April, June, August and October in the year 1779. I served not less than five times of one month each, in said Bristol - During these monthly tours of duty, I was sometimes under Capt. Throop, and sometimes under Lieut. Dimond or Reynolds, but oftener under the Capt - in some of the first tours of duty; when I helped build the fort on Poppasquash Point. Genl. Bret had the command in building the fort, and afterwards I was under one Capt. Westcott, who was also called Major Westcott at Poppasquash Point - These tours of duty were all performed in sd. Bristol, while it was a garrisoned town in the guard posts there, at the fort at Bristol ferry, or at the town, or at Mount (black smudge illegible) Point, or at Poppasquash Point - but oftener at the latter place than any others in the town - except the month I was on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition.

Again in the month of August 1780 I was drafted from sd. Company for one month and was marched to Newport, and quartered near Situate beach to the east of the Town. We were put into the company of one Capt. Remington of Situate, in the state, but the other officers I cannot remember as they were strangers to me - I remember that the French Army, and French Fleet were then in Newport - and we had orders, that if we saw more than two vessels coming in, at once, to give an alarm - after my month was out I was discharged and I returned home - Said Company of Militia belonged to Col. Miller's Regiment, Lieut. Col. Peter Church and P. Heath was Major.

And sd. Church solemnly declares that he was in the public service, as a private soldier, in the manner, and at the time aforesaid for the full term of seventeen months, at the least for which he claims a pension.

And he further declares that he was born in sd. Bristol on the 15th day of February, 1761 as the record herewith will shew - That he has always lived in sd. Bristol, and not elsewhere - That he never received any written discharge from any of his services = but was verbally discharged by his commanding officers, - That he has no documentary evidence of sd. services - That he refers to the Revd.
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Henry Wight & Ambrose Waldron Esq. who are citizens of sd. Bristol, and his neighbor who testify to his character for veracity, & to their belief that he was a soldier of the Revolution, and also to the accompanying depositions.
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.
Tho. Church

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Attest, Wm. Throop Clk. of Probate

We Henry Wight & Ambrose Waldron of said Bristol, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Church who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is refuted and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Henry Wight
Ambrose Waldron

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Attest, Wm. Throop Clk. of Probate

And the P. 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 certify, that it appears to them that the Rev. Henry Wight is a clergyman resident in sd. Bristol, and that Ambrose Waldron Esq. who has also signed the same, is resident in the same Bristol, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest, Wm. Throop Clk of Probate

I, William Throop Clerk of the Court of Probate in said Bristol, a Court of Record, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas Church, for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this seventh day of October A.D. 1833 and of American Independence the fifty eighth.
Wm. Throop Clk of Probate
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"Thomas Church, son of Mr. Samuel Church and Anne his wife, was born Feb. 15 1761"
Town Clerk's Office, Bristol R.I. October 7th, 1833
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy from the Record in this office.
Witness, Wm Throop, Town Clk.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the first section of the act of Congress of the __ day of August, 1848, entitled, "an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army," and of such other acts as relate to the granting of pensions to the widows of such officers and soldiers.

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, County of Bristol [illegible]
On this first Monday of September, A.D. 1848, personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session, at Bristol, within and for the town of Bristol, in said county, Molly Church, a resident of said town, aged seventy three years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed August __ A.D. 1848, entitled, "an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army, and of all such other acts as relate to granting pensions to the widows of revolutionary officers and soldiers.
That she was married to Thomas Church, on the 26th day of October A.D. 1794, who was a private soldier in the army of the United States during a part of the revolutionary war and served as such, as she has good reason to believe and does verily believe, for the periods of time and in the manner sett forth by him in the declaration made by him and for which service, a pension was granted to him under the act of congress passed June 7th 1832. She further declares that her said husband died, on the sixteenth day of May A.D. 1843, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Molly Church

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
Peter Gladding, Probate Clerk
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I, Peter Gladding, Clerk of the said Court of Probate, hereby certify that the aforegoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Molly Church for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office, this September 6th A.D. 1848.
Attest Peter Gladding Probate Clerk, Thomas Church, the son of Samuel Church Esquire and Molly Trip the daughter of Stephen Trip, were legally joined together in lawful marriage on the 26th day of October A.D. 1794. A true copy from the Records.
Attest Peter Gladding, Town Clerk

Thomas Church the son of Samuel Church Essquire and Molly Trip the daughter of Stephen Trip were legally joined together in lawful marriage on the twenty sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
Attest Peter Gladding

I Peter Gladding on solemn oath depose that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the town of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island and as such have the custody of the Registry of marriages and deaths for said town; and I further depose that the first above certificate subscribed by me is a true copy from said registry of marriages; and the second certificate is a true copy from the same with the exception only that the last above certificate expresses the day and year of said marriage in letters instead of figures according to the first.
Peter Gladding

State of Rhode Island Bristol [illegible]
At Bristol in said county this 29th day of August AD 1848. Then personally appeared before me, the above named Peter Gladding, whose signature is affixed to the above deposition, and made oath to the truth of the same. Before me J. Russell Bullock, Justice Peace
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I, Samuel W. Church of Bristol in the county of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island aged forty four years on solemn oath depose and say: That I am the son of Thomas Church late of said Bristol deceased, and of Molly Church his wife. That my said father obtained a pension from the United States for his military services in the Revolutionary war under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832. That my said father died on the sixteenth day of May, 1843, and left my mother the said Molly Church, his widow, and that she is still alive, and remains the widow of said Thomas Church to this day.
Samuel W. Church

State of Rhode Island Bristol ss
At Bristol in said county, this 29th day of August A.D. 1848, then personally appeared before me, the above named Samuel W. Church, whose signature is affixed to the above deposition and who then made oath to the truth of the same. And I further certify, that I am personally acquainted with the said Samuel W. Church, and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
J. Russell Bullock Justice Peace
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Revolutionary War Records Section. 3-525
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., ____, 19__
In reply to your request of ____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas Church, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. W.F. 8600.

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment. Fall 1775
Length of Service.
Rank. Pvt.
Officers under whom service was rendered. Officers not stated, served several tours in the militia of 
State. R.I.

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment. Feb 1777
Length of Service. And served at various times in all 17 mos.
Rank.
Officers under whom service was rendered. Captain William Throop, Captain Vial Allen, Captain Westcott, Captain Remington, Colonel Miller
State. R.I.

Battles engaged in, Sullivans Expedition to R.I.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Popposquash, Bristol, Bristol Co. R.I.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 7, 1833. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Bristol, R.I.
Age at date of application, born in Bristol, R.I. Feb 15, 1761. Son of Samuel and Anne Church. Soldier married in Bristol R.I., Oct 26, 1794. Molly daughter of Stephen Trip and died May 16, 1843 and she was allowed pension on an application executed Sept 6, 1848 while a resident of Bristol aged 73 years. Son Samuel W. 44 years of age in 1848. No further family data.
Respectfully, Commissioner.
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I, Edward Munro of Bristol in the county of Bristol, and state of Rhode Island &c. aged eighty six years, under solemn oath depose. That I have been well acquainted with Thomas Church of said Bristol from his childhood. In the Revolutionary War, we both belonged to the militia company of this town, at that time under Capt. Wm. Throop, while the British held possession of Rhode Island, our Company was divided off into two parts, or classes, and served by monthly terms, at our different guard hosts, in the years 1777-1778 & 1779. I know that said Church did duty in said Militia Company having seen him in the service at various times, during said years, and from my knowledge, and recollection thinks he served his full share of one half the time as we all did who were enrolled in said Company.
In Sullivan's expedition, on Rhode Island in August 1778, we were both engaged, and quartered in the same tent, said Church is now an applicant for a pension.
Edward Munro - X his mark

State of Rhode Island &c. Bristol ss
At Bristol Oct. 17th 1833
Personally came Edward Munro the above named deponant and made solemn oath to the truth of his aforegoing deposition, and subscribed the same before me. And I further certify, that said deponant is personally known to me, and sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm. Throop, Justice, Court C. Pleas.
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I, Frederick Luther of Warren in the county of Bristol and state of Rhode Island &c. aged seventy years under solemn oath depose and say. That in the war of the Revolution I served as a private soldier for one month in a company of Militia on Rhode Island under the command of a Capt. Remington. At that time Thomas Church of Bristol in said county, who is now an applicant for a pension, was in said company with me, and served out his month as the rest of us did. This service was performed I think in August or September in the year 1780.
Frederick Luther

State of Rhode Island &c. Bristol ss
At Warren Oct. 17th, 1833.
Personally came Frederick Luther the above named deponant and made solemn oath to the truth of his aforegoing Deposition and subscribed the same before me. And I further certify that said deponant is personally known to me, and sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm. Throop Justice Court C. Pleas.
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I, Royal Sandford of Bristol in the county of Bristol and state of Rhode Island, aged seventy four years, being duly sworn, depose. That I am now, and have from childhood been acquainted with Thomas Church of this town, who is now an applicant for a pension. In the Revolutionary war, we both belonged to the militia company of this town, then under Capt. Wm. Throop. While the English were on Rhode Island, our company was divided off, into two parts and performed monthly services, by turns for one month at a time, at the guard posts in sd. Bristol. In the years 1777 and 1778 and 1779, I know that said Church was in the Public Service, in said Company of Militia in sd. town. I have seen him the service at different times, during the years aforesaid. And from my knowledge, think he served his full share of half the time as did the other members of sd. Company. In Sullivans Expedition on Rhode Island in August 1778 he and myself were in the same tent together on R. island. I further say not.
Royal Sandford

State of Rhode Island &c. Bristol ss
At Bristol Oc. 17th 1833
Personally came Royal Sanford, the above named deponant and made solemn oath to the truth of his aforegoing deposition and subscribed the same before me. And I further certify that said deponant is personally known to me and sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm. Throop Justice, Court C. Pleas.

State of Rhode Island &c. Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas for the county of Bristol
I hereby certify that Wm. Throop whose signature is affixed in his own proper hand writing to the taking of the aforegoing depositions of Samuel Reynolds, Edward Munro, Frederick Luther and Royal Sanford, is Chief Justice of the Court aforesaid, duly commissioned under the seal of said state, and engaged thereon according to law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court his seventeenth day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen
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hundred and thirty three and of American Independence the fifty eighth.
Wm. Bradford Clk.
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N 32
Molly Church wid of Thomas R.I.
Act 29 July 1848
Married 1794
husband died Mar 1843
at mo, 17 mo [illegible] $54.16 [illegible]
[illegible] 4 March 1848

Hon R B Cranston
[illegible]
Page 17

I, William Throop, of Bristol in the county of Bristol, in the state of Rhode Island, Esquire, aged seventy seven years on solemn oath, depose and say, that I was intimately acquainted with Thomas Church, of said Bristol, and with his wife Molly Church. That said Thomas Church drew a pension from the United States, for military services performed by him during the Revolution for a number of years previous to his death. And I further depose, that he died some time in May 1843, and left the said Molly Church his widow and that she is still alive and remains his widow.
Wm Throop

State of Rhode Island Bristol ss
At Bristol in said county this 290th day of August A.D. 1848. Then personally appeared before me, the above named William Throop, whose signature is affixed to the above deposition, and who then and there, made oath to the truth of the same. And I do further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said William Throop and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
J. Russell Bullock Justice Peace
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The State of Rhode Island &c County of Bristol Sc.
Clerk's Office of the Supreme Court in and for said County this 8th day of September A.D. 1848.
I, Wm. Throop, Clerk of said Court, do hereby certify that Peter Gladding whose name appears at the bottom of the aforegoing declaration of Molly Church, and also to the foregoing purported copy of the record of her marriage to Thomas Church, is Clerk of Probate, and also the Town Clerk in and for the Town of Bristol in said county and that the signature of his name under said declaration and certificate is his true genuine hand writing.
And I further certify that J. Russell Bullock whose name appears at the bottom of the captions of the aforegoing deposition of Samuel W. Church and Wm. Throop is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and authorized by law to administer oaths and take depositions, and that the signature of said Bullock's name to said several captions is in his own genuine hand writing.
In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and annexed my seal of office the day and year first above written.
Wm. Throop, Clerk
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Bristol, R. I. Sept. 23, 1848
Sir,
I take great pleasure in having to address to you the claims of Mrs. Susannah Rogers and Mrs. Molly Church for pensions, both under the act of August 1848. Not having seen this act, as published by authority, I am not able to insert its exact date, but as the title is quoted in the declarations, I presume I have been sufficiently explicit. Mrs. Church claims as the widow of Thomas Church to whom a pension was awarded, Nov 25th 1833, under the act of June 7th 1832, and of course her claim is founded upon evidence already in possession of the Department.
As respects Mrs. Rogers, she furnishes all the evidence the nature of her situation admits, and it is believed, it will be satisfactory to you. When the act was passed extending to widows, married previous to January 1794, pensions, her case was thought to be so peculiar, her husband having spent so much of the best of his life in the Revolutionary service, and her only son having lost his life in the marine corps, that a petition was prefered to Congress for a pension, under the auspices of our late Senator, Robins, who procured its reference, but the committee being divided on the subject, the matter rested. It will now be seen by reference to the documents forwarded, that Dr. Rogers was Chaplain to the 3rd Brigade of the Penn Line of State Troops, during most of his service and, I trust, will be found to have been such, on the Rolls in the Department at Washington. Should these Rolls not,
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however, be in your possession, I presume the documents inclosed are of such a nature and of such [illegible] date, as to afford convincing proff of the facts relied upon in support of the claim.
Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt.
J.R. Bullock

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions

J.L. Edwards Esquire
commission of Pensions
Washington
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27598
Thomas Church
R.I.
Private 17 months admd

John Cross Portsmouth
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Thomas Church R.I. act 7 June 1832/$56.66
To what time was he last paid
GCA
Died 6th May 1843
Paid to his death BVB
Pension Office
Decem 15, 1848
Page 23

House of Rep
Jany 2nd 1849
Sir
Please give me the place of residence of Molly Church and the name of her agent.
I am respectfully
R.B. Cranston

To James L. Edwards, Esq.
Com of Pen
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War Department, Office of the Secretary,
Washington.
March 1, 1892
Dear Sir:
I am in receipt of a letter from Miss Annie C. Spooner of Bristol, R.I., asking my assistance in obtaining information respecting the services of her great grandfather, Thomas Church in the Revolutionary War. She very much desires the information for the purpose, and the sole purpose, of enabling her to join the society of the "Daughters of the American Revolution"
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and, in the absence of information as to the organization in which a soldier served, or the name of one or more commissioned officers under whom he served, it is extremely difficult to trace his military service, as it is understood that the records, rolls, &c. of the Revolutionary War (which are in the State Department) are not indexed.
It is stated by Miss Spooner that her great grandfather (Thomas Church) was a
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pensioner and it occurs to me that, were such the case, the records of your office might conveniently afford such information respecting his Revolutionary service as will subserve the object in view.
Will you kindly oblige her with any available information the records of your office may contain in the case, and thus enable me to advance the wishes of my correspondent whom
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I personally know to be an estimable lady.
Very truly yours,
John Tweedale

Hon. G.B. Raum,
Commissioner of Pensions,
City
File with case

ONM. Reply this
my best
HGL Sec
212/19
ow thd
8600
Mar 4 1892
Mar 8 1892
Commissioner
Page 28

Rev Sec H
Dear Sir,
Could you give me the names of wife or children or Thomas Church as revolutionary pensioner of Bristol R.I.
Mrs. EN Robinson
4228 Corliss Av
Seattle
Page 29

Revolution Rhode Island
Widow, &c.
File No. 8600
Molly Church Wid Thomas Church
Privt Rev War
Act: July 29 1848
Index: Vol. A, Page 128
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mar 9 - Hist John Tweedale City
1916 Apr 11 History to Ms. E.N. Robinson. M.B.H.
Page 30

I Samuel Reynolds of Bristol in the county of Bristol and state of Rhode Island, aged seventy two years being duly sworn, depose - That I have always been acquainted with Thomas Church of sd. Bristol, who is now an applicant for a pension. In the time of the Revolutionary war, while the enemy had in possession Newport in this state, said Church belonged to the militia company of this town, under the command of Capt. Wm. Throop, during the years 1777 and 1778 and 1779 the militia of this town had to do military duty by turns, for one month at a time at the guard posts on Popposquash Point and at the compact part of the town, and at the fort at the ferry, and at Pecks farm on the neck. And at Mount Hope Point, and at Little's narrows. From my knowledge of said Church's services I think he served his full share of one half the time, as did the other members of sd. company. Though I can not say the exact number of months he served.
In August 1778 I saw him on Rhode Island in Sullivans Expedition, we did not go on together, I went on with the other part of our sd. company and got on to the lower lines before he came away. I further say not.
Samuel Reynolds

State of Rhode Island &c, Bristol ss
At Bristol Oct. 17th 1833
Personally came Samuel Reynolds, the above named deponant and made solemn oath to the truth of his aforegoing deposition and subscribed the same before me. And I further certify that said deponant is personally known to me and sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm Throop Justice Court C. Pleas