Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,710, Stephen Congdon, R.I.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
R. I. | Congdon, Stephen | S. 21, 710

CONTENTS
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Died Aug 1. 1839
21.703
Rhode Island
Stephen Congdon
Washington in the  State of Rhode Island who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Taylor of the Rgt commanded by Col. Dyer in the Rhode Island line for 14 months & 18 days

Inscribed on the  Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 48 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Oct 1836 and sent Hon. D. I Pearce, Newport Rhode Island.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833          $121.67
Semi-ann. allowance ending March '34  24.33
                 [totaled]                              $146.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk, Book E Vol 2nd. Page 105
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Declaration
In order to obtain the act of congress, passed June 7, 1832
State of Rhode island
County of Washington} ss
On this sixth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Stephen Congdon, a resident of North Kingston in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island aged eighty-four 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. That he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, and served as herein stated.
That to say In the month of Oct. 1776 when enlisting to Captain William Sayer's company of militia in said North Kingston he was drafted therefrom to guard the shore on Boston Neck in that town when he served from that time a period of six months under the said Taylor. Some time in the summer of 1777 at said North Kingstown he was again drafted for a period of three months from the said Taylor's company and served that period at the North Ferry in said North Kingstown in watching the enemy and guarding the shore in that vicinity. Soon after he was discharged from the last aforementioned service he enlisted into a company of cavalry under Major Sylvester Gardner in which he was called out under Colonel Dyer and served about three weeks at the Tenrot road at Warwick Neck when he was discharged and returned home.
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In August 1778 he was again drafted and marched on to the Island of Rhode Island and served there 30 days and was then in Sullivan's expedition and at the end of this term he was discharged and returned home in this period of service he served under Colonel Dyer.
And this said Congdon discloses that at divers other periods other than those aforementioned times he performed among things terms of service against the enemy which he cannot now presently state but which when taken all together he verily believes [illegible] and is willing to declare amounted to as long as four months.

And the said Congdon declares that he faithfully performed all the aforesaid periods of service in the defense of his country and he further declares that he was
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born in said North Kingstown on the 17th day of May 1748, where from his birth he has always resided, that he has no record of his age, that he never received any certificates of discharge, that he recollects from any of his said services he was verbally discharged by his officers. That he has no documentary evidence of any of his said services. That it not convenient to have in court any clergyman from his vicinity. That he therefore refers to Daniel E. Updike and Samuel Gardner citizens of said North Kingston his neighbors who testify to his character for veracity and to their belief that he was a soldier of he revolution.
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.
in Open Court
Stephen Congdon
William Helme Clerk

We Daniel Updike, Samuel Gardner
residing in the said North Kingston
residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Stephen Congdon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty four 
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day aforesaid 

Daniel Eldridge Updike
Samuel Gardner
in Open Court
William Helme Clerk
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 Daniel Eldridge Updike and 
Samuel Gardner who signed the preceding certificate, are residents in the town of North Kingston that they are credible persons and 
that their statement is entitled to credit
And the Court also certify that from
their knowledge and Examination of Langworthy Pearce the preceeding deponent
the Court, Consider his Testimony contained in his preceding Deposition
entitled to Cudgt
Samuel Helme
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Stephen Congdon for 
a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office
this Eighteenth
day of February AD. 1833
Samuel Helme Clerk
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Stephen Congdon of North Kingstown in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island, as explanatory and supplementary of his declaration for the purposes of obtaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832, by him made this sixth day of Sept. 1832, and returned to him by the commissioner of pensions  for amendment, being first duly affirmed according to law, doth on his solemn affirmation further declare that in the month of October 1776, then being a private soldier of the second company of the militia in said North Kingstown, he was therefrom drafted for a period of six months & marched to Boston Neck in said North Kingstown where he served out the aforesaid period of six months guarding against the enemy under the officers of said company, who was during this period William Taylor Capt., John Cole Lieut., the Ensign's name he does not now remember the col. during the above service at Boston Neck was either Col. Brown or Col. Dyer, but which he cannot now be positive. In the summer of 1777, he was again drafted from the aforementioned
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company for a period of three months and served out this latter period after which he was drafted [illegible] North ferry in said Boston Neck guarding against the enemy, as a private, under the said Capt. Taylor, whose Lieut. at this time was James Congdon & Ensign Joseph Northrup, in Col Dyer's Regt. Soon after the expiration of the call aforementioned tour of service, he thinks in the fall of 1777, he enlisted as a private into a company of cavalry under Major Sylvester Gardner and served in this company eighteen days a part of the time at the [illegible] in said North Kingstown & a part of this time at Warwick Neck in said State in Col Dyer's Regt. & at the end of this service he was discharged & returned home. And in August 1778 he was drafted from said second company of militia for a period of thirty days & marched on to the Island of Rhode Island under Capt. James Allro whose lieut. was at that time James Elred & Ensign Lawrence Pearce, where he served at Sullivans expedition as a private said thirty days in Col. Dyer's Regt. He also afterwards served one month as a private at Point Judith in
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said county in the aforesaid company of militia under the officers of said company last aforementioned, in Colonel Noye's Regiment.; but the particular date of this last tour of service he cannot now remember. The said Stephen Congdon declares that between the fore part of November 1778 and November 1779 he was separately detached from the aforementioned company of militia for periods of service of a month each and though he can not now remember so as to state particularly the dates of those periods of service, yet he feels confident and is willing to declare that between the forepart of November 1778 & November 1779 he served at periods of a month each as a private guarding against the enemy in the vicinity of Bissells Mills in said North Kingstown in the whole not less than four months, a part of the time under the said Capt. Taylor and a part of the time under Captain John Cole in Colonel Dyer's Regt for all which aforesaid services he  claims a pension.

(signature)Stephen Congdon

Washington SS State of Rhode Island at North Kingstown this
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Sixteenth day of Septm. 1833
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace the said Stephen Congdon, who gave and subscribed the preceding supplementary declaration in my presence & was by me duly affirmed thereto according to law.
I further certify that the said Congdon is known by me, that he is a person of veracity & that his testimony & his declaration are entitled to credit.

(signature) Asa Potter
Justice Peace

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Washington County Sc}
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that Asa Potter Esq. was on the Sixteenth day of September A.D. 1833 and now is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & qualified & that the signature annexed to the preceding certificate regarding Stephen Congdon I believe to be his own proper handwriting. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this sixteenth day of September A.D. 1833
(signature) Sam. Helme, Clk.
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22797
Stephen Congdon
R. Island
Private 16 months 18 days
(initials) JMC
Hon. D. J. Pearce
Newport
RI

RI
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[note: this is a form letter containing a table of information.]

War Department
Pension Office
188
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to the department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement showing the service of Stephen Congdon Washington Co. R. Island
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Months. | Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battle in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
draf 1776 | - | 6 | - | priv | Capt. Taylor | - | - | Boston | 84 year | 
" 1777 | - | 3 | " | - | Taylor | Col. Dyer | Kingston | North Kingston | traditionary evidence
" - | - | - | 18 days | | Maj. Silvester | - | - | , North Kingstown | North Kingston | 1-2 witnesses
" 1778 | " | 1 | - | | | Genl Sullivan | - | Warwick | R. Island | 
 | | 4 | | | | Col. Dyer | - | North Kingston | | 
 | | 14 | 18 | | | | | | |

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

[Two handwritten calculations at the bottom of the page:] 
46.67+1.67+.33 [=]48.67

48.67x 2 [=] 97.34+24.33[=]121.67
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[page] 2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

     The following regulations have been adopted:
   This  law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafter, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

     Four general classes of classes are embrace in this law:
           1. The Regular Troops.
           2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
           3. Persons employed in the naval service.
           4. Indian Spies.

     As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist i this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                   DECLARATION,
          In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of
       County of                         
             [bracket including both lines]  88.

On this                day of          personally appeared (a) before                  A.B. a resident (b) of                 in the county of                 and State, Territory or District of           aged (c) 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 proven made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)        , with         and served in the              (e) regiment of the               line, under the following named officers:

     [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service;  the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  [picture of hand pointing to the next sentence] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

     He herby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
     Sworn to and subscribed the and year aforesaid.                                 A.B.
     [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
     And the said Court do hereby declare the opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
     I                                      of the Court of                   do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of          for a pension.
           In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this            day of                    &c.

     If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
     Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following addition, viz:
   (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the    
      and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
                       , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be             years of age; that he is reputed and beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
               Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
      [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

      And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident n the               and the C.D., who has also singed the same is a resident in the                      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
        I,                       Clerk of the Court of            
        do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of  
            for a person.

                   In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal                 of office, this                  day of                   &c.
      Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commission; but it neither of there can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail this personal knowledge of the service of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
      If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of is claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore. these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace. the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
" Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of bis 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 mouths and days, I served as a and for such service I claim a pension."
{It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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21710
Revolution
Invalid
File No. 21,718
Stephen Congdon
Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7 32
Index:-- Vol. 2 Page 77

[arrangement of 1970]
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Stephen Congdon
22797
Page 16

Polipus Austin of North Kingstown in the Country of Washington & State of Rhode Island aged eighty-one years on oath deposes & says, that he remembers Stephen Congdon of said North Kingstown, who, he understands, is an applicant for a pension, served in Capt. William Taylor's company of Militia in guarding against the enemy in Boston Neck in said North Washington on several different tours of service in 1776 & 1777 sometimes for periods of several months and sometimes for shorter periods; this deponent and the said Congdon a part of the time belonged to the same company (Capt. Taylor's) and served therein together in the above-mentioned years and part of the times to different companies in the same service. We quartered at the same stations at the North Ferry so called and at John Congdon's Farm in said Boston Neck. This   deponent also thought of other military services of said Congdon during the war at Warwick Neck and on the Island of Rhode Island for short periods of a few weeks. This deponent also remembers that the said Congdon performed several tours of service in Boston Neck under Capt. John Cole, how many he cannot now recollect. This deponent further says that it was
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[illegible] serving the war that the said Congdon said frequent other services but of those this deponent does not know of his own knowledge. 

his mark Polipus Austin

Winess
Matthew Waite

The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Washington FC at South Kingstown this fifteenth day of February AD 1833 Personally appeared the above named Polipus Austin who before gave & subscribed the preceding deposition and was by me duly sworn thereto according to law. I further certify that the said Polipus Austin is personally known to me and that he is a credible witness.

(signature) Matthew Waide Just. Peace
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Washington SS} Clerks Office Court Common 
Pleas & Gen. Sessions of the Peace for the County of Washington.

Feb. 18,1833 I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Courts aforesaid, do hereby certify that Matthew Waite Esq. whose signature in his own proper hand writing is affixed to his attestation of the preceeding deposition of Polipus Austin was at the time of his aforesaid attestation & now is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of South Kingstown in said County of Washington duly commissioned.
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under the seal of said state & otherwise qualified as such. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of said court the day and year aforesaid.
Sam. Helme, Clk.
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I Langworthy Pearce of North Kingstown in the county of Washington & State of Rhode Island aged eighty four years on oath do depose & say that Stephen Congdon of Washington aforesaid & myself served in the revolution together against the enemy in Boston Neck under Capt. Wm. Taylor in 1776 & 1777. This deponent thinks a period of six months. This deponent also recollects that he & the said Stephen served together at Point Judith Point, he thinks about one month & then we served together at Boston Neck in Capt. John Cole's company a long time in guarding the shore against the enemy & one month at Sullivans expedition.

his mark Langworthy Pearce

Witn's. Sam. Helme
Taken sworn to and subscribed in open court
Witn's. Sam. Helm Clerk