Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,751, Richard Fenner, R.I.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                       NUMBER
R. I.     Fenner, Richard  S. 21, 751

CONTENTS
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10,259
Rhode Island
Richard Fenner
of Providence in the State of RI
who was a Cap & Major in the ______commanded by Captain Grinself of the , _______commanded by __________in the RI
line for 1 month [ilegible]
5 Mon 15 Cap
1 " [Mon sic] Major
Inscribed on the Roll of RI.
at the rate of 132 dollars 33 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of pension issued the 26 the day of May 1834, and sent to 
Benj Cowell Esq. Providence RI
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834 $414.99
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sep "  $69.16
                                                ===========
                                                   $484.15
                                                ============
{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk
Book E Vol 2 page 109
This certificate is issued in lieu of the dated 26 March 1839 increasing pension from $128.33 to $138.33
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Richard Fenner D. W 
F.
15781
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Unite States of America
Rhode-Island District, sc. August Term 1832
County of Providence
On this ninth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a District Court of the United States with and for said District, now in session -- Richard Fenner a resident of Cranston in the County of Provicence and State of Rhode Island age 78 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, viz. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. 
He was born August 21st 1753 in Johnston, he has no record of his birth, lived in Johnston when he entered the service & since the War has lived in Providence & 37 years past has lived in Cranston where he now resides ---- and this applicant further states that soon after the Battle of Lexington in 1775 he was appointed Captain of a company of militia in Johnston and so continued until 1776 when his company was frequently called out upon aforesaid & March to Providence & according to the best of his recollection has served in his office as captain at least two months on such claims & he also served as Captain as aforesaid one month at Pawtuxet & fifteen days at Warwick during the same year
and this applicant further states that in October 1777 he served one month as Captain in Spencers expedition - 
and this applicant further states that in August 1778 her served one month in Sullivans expedition as Major to the 1st regiment of Militia - and this applicant further states that in the fall of 1780 her served one month at Bristol as a soldier on the alarm list of Militia - and he further states that his commission as Captain is lost but his commissions as Major & Colonel are herewith annexed -
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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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid [signed] Richard Fenner
attest B. Cowell Clk [Clerk]
We, [blank] [paragraph x'd out "a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and [blank] residing in [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 soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the 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 served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Benjamin Luther & John Alverson who [strike out "has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the"] who have testified for the applicant [strike out "and that] are residents as they [strike out "who also signed the same is a resident in the"] have testified and are [strike out "and is a"] credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Fenner for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 15th day of October AD 1832
Benjamin Cowell Clk [Clerk
Download
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JLE
15781
Richard Frenner
Re of J
Capt 4 Mos 15 days
Major 1 Do
1 Privat 1
6-15
Adm [Admited]
Benj [Benjamin] Cowell
Providence
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Brief in the case of Richard Henner
of Providence in the State of Rhode Island
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity [blank]
3. How old is he? 78 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. [blank]
[column headings] Period | Duration of Service | Rank | Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served
In 1776 | at least 2 [months] | as a Captain | [blank]
 " [ditto] In 1776 | " [at least] 1 [month] | " [ditto] as a Captain | [blank]
" [ditto in 1776] | " [ditto] at least 15 days | " [ditto] as a Captain | [blank]
In 1777 | " [ditto at least] " [ditto] 15 days | " [ditto] as a Captain | Spencers expedition
In 1778 | " [ditto] at least " [ditto] 15 days | as a Major | 1st Reg't [Regiment] Sullivan's expedition
In 1786 | " [ditto] at least [blank] | as a Lt. [Lieutenant] Colonel [strike out " private'] | [blank]
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service. Johnston R.I. [Rhode Island]
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two living witnesses and by two commissioner
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not properly connected
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
[signed] M. Clagett, Examining Clerk
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In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Richard Fenner 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.
S. file 21.751
[column headings
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | Length of Service | Rank | Officers under Whom Services was Rendered - Captain - Colonel | State
75 | [check mark] | Lieut. [Lieutenant] | [Captain blank] [checkmark under Colonel] | R.I. [Rhode Island]
76 | 27 mo. | Capt. [Captain] | [Blank] | [blank]
77 | 3 mo. | [ditto Captain] | [blank] | [blank]
Aug 78 | 1 mo | Major | [blank] | 1 R.I. [Rhode Island]
Fall 80 | 1 mo | [illegible] on alarm list | [blank[ | [blank]
Commissioned Major, R.I. Mil. [Rhode Island Militia] May 11, 1778, Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] R.I. Mil. [Rhode Island Militia] May 10 1779
Battles engaged in, Spencer's & Sullivan's Exped. [Expeditions]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Johnston, R.I. [Rhode Island]
Date of application for pension, Aug [August] 9, 1832
Residence at date of application, Cranston, R.I. [Rhode Island]
Age at date of application, born Johnston, R.I. [Rhode Island] Aug. [August] 21, 1753.
Remarks: Only Richard Fenner of R.I. [Rhode Island]
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21751
INVALID
Revolution
File NO. 21,751
Richard Fenner Major Rev. [Revolutionary] War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: [blank] Vol. 2, Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870]
1907 June 13. Hist. [History] to R. Hammett Tilley - c
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretarys office May 1. AD 1834
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden in June one thousand seven hundred seventy five Richard Fenner Jun [Junior] was elected Lieutenant
of the first company of militia in the town of Johnston for and until the first Wednesday of May then next. That at said may session he was elected Captain of said company for one year; that at May session one thousand seven
hundred seventy seven he was reelected to said office for one year. That at May session following he was elected Major of the first Regiment of militia in the County of Providence for one year. That at May session one thousand seven hundred seventy nine he was reelected Major of said said regiment, for one year; and at May session one thousand seven hundred &
eighty was superceded. All which appears of record in this office
Witness Henry Bowen Secry [Secretary]
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY, John Brown Francis
Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name "HENRY BOWEN." to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, 
 who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence, this first day of May
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty and four and of Independence the fifty eighth
John Brown Francis
BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.
Henry Bowen Secry [Secretary]
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Rhode Island District
On this 16th day of May 1834 Richard Fenner of Cranston in said District aged 81 years maketh this supplemental declaration of his services during the Revolutionary War in addition to the one made August 9, 1832
in Court. He declares that since then he has
remembered several tours of service which were omitted in said declaration & for which his pension ought to be increased, according to his best recollection he stated but six months in his first declaration whereas
he now remembers he served more
He avers that he was appointed a Captain of Militia in May 1776. (having been elected a Lieutenant the year before), and he continued to act in that capacity and that of Major until May 1780 as will appear by the Secretary's certificate hereto annexed, in 1780 he could have been reelected but declined He then
went into the "Alarm List" And he further
declares that while he was Captain in 1776, 1777
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he served as follows. He remembers distinctly of being called out with his company on many alarms occasioned by the enemy fleet in the Massachusetts Bay and of marching to the shore to gard [guard] against them, which alarms last from one to six days at each time- According to his best recollection he avers that between January 1776 & the first of December he served one month & a half at least at Providence and other places
In December 1776 in the beginning of the month the British Army took possession of Newport when he marched to Patuxet with his Company & served a month. In March 1777 following he served another month & was stationed at said Patuxet In the summer following of the same year he served another month at Warwick Neck & also another month in October & November following in Spencer's Expedition. In 1778 he was appointed Major of the Regiment & he remembers of serving one month
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in said Capacity in August in Sullivans expedition In 1780 he volunteered in the "Alarm List" and marched to Bristol & was there stationed a month before he was discharged. said Richard declares that he served seven months & a half in all at the times & places before mentioned and he claims to have his pension increased & he
herewith returns his certificate being No 10259
Richard Fenner
May 16, 1834
Sworn to before me by the said Richard Fenner
[signed] Benj. Cowell
Commissioner Dist. [District] Court
R.I. Dist. [Rhode Island District]
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I Edward Waterman of Johnston in the County of Providence being no [now] 74 years of age on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Richard Fenner of Cranston who was formerly an officer in the Revolution. Said Richard was a Captain when I served under him and I have a perfect recollection of serving three tours of a month each in his Company one in December 1776 soon after the Brittish took possession of Newport and one in March following in 1777. We were stationed at a place called Patuxet [Pawtucket] at both times. Afterwords in battles in [illegible] expedition against the Brittish I served another tour under him at Tiverton. I have no doubt he served at other times and places when I was not with him as the Militia were often called upon to do military
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duty during all the time the enemy was in possession of Newport. Said Richard has always sustained a good character for truth and veracity.
[signed] Edward Waterman
April 16 1834
Sworn to before me by the said Edward Waterman and I further certify he is a credible witness in the premises.
[signed] Benja Cowell 
Commiss [Commissioner] District Court R.I. [Rhode Island] District
May 16 1834 I further certify the preceding contain the proceedings of Richard Fenner in his supplemental application for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court on the day and year above written.
[signed] Benja Cowell Clk [clerk]
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Supplemental Application of Richard Fenner
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By his Excellency William Greene Esquire, Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of and over the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. To Richard Fenner, junior Esq., Greeting
You the said Richard Fenner junior being elected and chosen to the Place and Office Major of the first Regiment of Militia in the County of Providence in the State aforesaid, are hereby, in the Name of the Governor and Company of the said State, authorized, empowered, and commissioned, to exercise the Office of Major of and over the Regiment aforesaid And to command, guide and conduct the same or any part thereof: And in Case of an Invasion, or Assault of a common Enemy, to infest or disturb this Plantation, you are to alarm and gather together the Regiment under your Command, or such part thereof as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, you are to resist, expel, kill, and destroy
the same, in order to preserve the Interest of the good People in these Parts. You are also to follow instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall from Time to Time be further given forth, either by the Assembly, the Governor and General Council, or other your superior Officers. And for your so doing, this 
commission shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge.
Given under my Hand and Seal of said State, the eleventh day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy eight.
[signed] W. Greene
By his Excellency's Command, [signed] Henry Ward Secy [Secretary]
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(The coat of arms for the state of Rhode Island)

OFFICE OF
State Record Commissioner

Providence, R. I., June 4th., 1907

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C. 
(Stamp: O. W&N DIV, JUN 6, 1907 FILES

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly sendt to this office the pension records of the Richard Fenners Soldiers from Rhode Island who served in the Revolutionary war. I think there were two or more pensioners.

Yours, truly,
R. Hammett Tilley 
State Record Commissioner
M.C.
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I John Alverson of Johnston in the County of
Providence and State of Rhode Island of lawful age
and engaged according to Law, do testify and say
that I am personally acquainted with Richard
Fenner now of Cranston in the County of Providence and
have been so acquainted ever since young men
and do know the said Richard Fenner comman
ded the first company of Militia in the Town of
Johnston and was stationed at Pawtucket. I
was with him there and understood the com
pany afterward went to Warwick. I was with him
in Gen. Spencers expedition. I was also with
him in Gen Sullivan's Expedition the said former
served there as Brigade Major
John Alverson
Aug 20 1832 Sworn to in open Court
B Cowell Clk
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Benjamin Luther
Deposition
for Richard Fenner
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I Benjamin Luther of Scituate in the
County of Providence State of Rhode Island &
Being of lawful age and duly engaged according to
law do testify and say- That I was in the
Revolutionary service with Capt. Richard Fenner
at Providence about one month in AD. 1776. I was
likewise with him at Warwick neck in the same
year one month. I was also with him at Bristol
one month in the year 1779 or 80 - and further
this deponent saith not-
Benjamin Luther
Providence sc. State of Rhode Island &
At Scituate August the 18th AD 1832-
Then personally appeared Benjamin Luther
Subscriber to the above deposition and made
oath to the truth thereof Before me
William Hines Justice Peace
Providence sc.
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerks office Supreme Judicial Court
August 20, 1832
I the undersigned Clerk of D Court do hereby certify that William
Hines Esquire above named is a Justice of the Peace for the town of
Scituate in the County duly elected to that office by the General Assembly of said
State & that the above signature is in the hand writing of the said
Justice.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal
of said Court the day & year above written
Wm H Smith Clerk
Justice
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Providence May 17 1834
Sir
I herewith enclose an additional claim
& evidence of Richard Fenner for an
increase of his pension. I also endorse
his Certificate
I am respectfully your
obt sert
Benja Cowell
J L Edwards Esq
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Richard Fenner
Payments to be made
at Providence R.I.
by the Pres of U. S. B. Bank
Agent for paying Pension
ers, in the Agency of R.I.

Recorded in the Pension Of
fice, in Book E Vol. 2
Page 109 by DD Addison
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, Richard Fenner
of the State of Rhode Island
who was a Private, Captain, and Major
in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive One hundred Eighteen dollars and
Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United 
States, this Twenty Sixth day of
March one thousand
eight hundred and thirty=Three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.
Examined and   }
Countersigned. }
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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10259
Rhode Island
_______________________________________________________
Richard Fenner
of Providence in the State of Rhode Island
who was a Pr. Cpt. & Maj in the R. Island commanded
by Captain Himself of the _____commanded
by______in the Rhode Island
line for 1 months Private
4 " 15 days Captain
1"   Major
_______________________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 118 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
________________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of March
1833 and sent  Benj
Cowell Providence R. Island
________________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $236.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept  "  59.17
                                                         ________
increased 1 Month as                    $295.83
                                                         ________

Cap
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.       }
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2,a Page 109
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By his Excellency William Greene. Esquire,
Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of and
over the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
To Richard Fenner. Junior. Esq: GREETING,

YOU the said Richard Fenner, junr.___being elected and chosen to the Place
and Office of Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment of Militia in the County
of Providence___ in the State aforesaid, are hereby, in the Name of the Governor
and Company of the said State, authorized, empowered, and commissioned, to exercise the Office of
Lieutenant Colonel of and over the Regiment aforesaid: And to command, guide and conduct the 
same, or any Part thereof: And in case of an Invasion, or Assault of a common Enemy, to infest or disturb this
Plantation, you are to alarm and gather together the Regiment under your Command, or such Part thereof as
you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, you are to resist, expel, kill, and
destroy the same, in order to preserve the Interest of the good People in these Parts. You are also to follow
such Instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall from Time to Time be further given forth, either by the
General Assembly, the Governor and General Council, or other your Superior Officers. And for your so doing,
this Commission shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge.
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said State the Tenth
Day of May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand
Seven Hundred and Seventy-nine.
By his Excellency's Command,
Henry Ward Secry
W. Greene