Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 48898, John Wightman, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service
R.I.
Wightman, John
Number
S. 48898
Contents
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10382 10382 48.898
Rhode I [illegible]
John Wightman
of Kent in the State of R Island who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Whitman of the Regt. commanded by Col Cooke in the Rhode Island line for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of April 1833 and sent in writing E Green [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $80.00
Sem-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 20.00
$100.00
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk
Book E Vol. 2 Page 155
see teller Benjamin Co2ell Aug 19 34
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No. 9357
John Wightman
Private
12 Months
papers and property authenticated Nov 13, 1832
40
2
80
20
100
N. Whiting Esqr.
E. Greenwich R.I.
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Brief in the case of John Wightman of the County of Kent in the State of R. 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?
3. How old is he? 77 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Name of General and field Officers under whom he served.
In 1776 3 Months As a Private Col. Cooke, Capt. Whitman
77 3 Months as a drafted Col. Watuman Capt. Rice
78 2 months do same capt
78 substitute 1 for N. Miller same officers
79 1 month drafted same Col, Capt. Randall
79 1 month do Lt. Holden, same Regt.
80 spring 1 month do Col. Capron, Capt. Brayton
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered service? Warwick
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No Clergyman's Certificates
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Sevin Belt
Examining Clerk.
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State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
Court of Common Pleas August Term AD. 1832.
On this twenty first day of August AD. 1832. personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, John Wightman, a resident of Coventry in the County of Kent and the State of Rhode Island, aged seventy seven 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 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he was born at Warwick in said County of that on the fourth day of November 1754 and lived there when he entered into the service and until the year 1780 when he removed to said Coventry, where he has lived for the most of the time ever since. That he has no Record of his birth, but it was recorded on the family bible of his father. That in the summer or early part of the fall of the year 1776 he enlisted in the Company commanded by Capt. Reuben Whitman for the term of three months, and served said term in said Company on Rhode Island in Col John Cook's Regiment, and continued there until the enemy droves us off the Island in the December following. That afterwards in the year 1777 he was drafted three several times in the Militia and served a month at a time on each of said Drafts under Capt Thomas Rice at Warwick neck in the Regiment commanded by Col. Waterman. That he was drafted in the Militia twice in the year 1778 for one months' service each time, in the Company commanded by the said Capt. Rice. That he served one month of the time
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aforesaid at Warwick neck and one month on Rhode Island under the said Capt Rice, but came off a few days before the battle. And that afterwards in the fall or forepart of Winter he served one month under the said Thomas Rice at Warwick in Col. Waterman's Regiment as a substitute, and was hired by Nathan Miller of said Warwick. That in the Winter or Spring of the year 1779 he was drafted and served one month at Warwick neck in the Company commanded by Capt Job Randall in the same Regiment; and afterwards in the same year he was again drafted and served one month at said Warwick neck under Lieutenant Anthony Holden in the same Regiment. That in the Spring of the year 1780 this applicant was called out with the Militia, he residing then at said Coventry, and served one month under Capt. Joseph Brayton in Col. Capron's Regiment at Bristol in Rhode Island - That this applicant does not recollect any other regular terms of Service but he well remembers that he was very often called out on sudden alarms, particularly in the years 1775 and 1776 and subsequently thereto and that he served on these occasions not less than four months in the whole during the war; making in the whole eighteen Months. That he has no Documentary evidence whatever.

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
John Wigtman [possible misspelling of Wightman]
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S. File 48898
John Wightman
Red
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I Pardon Tillinghast of East Greenwich in the County of Kent, a Clergyman, aged sixty two years, do hereby certify that I am acquainted with John Whitman of Coventry in the County of Kent, an applicant for a pension; That I believe him to be of the age of seventy seven years and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and in this opinion I concur -
Pardon Tillinghast

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
Sworn to and Subscribed at East Greenwich this 30th day of November 1832-
And I hereby certify that the said Pardon Tillinghast- is a Clergiman of good standing at said East Greenwich
Witness Jos. J. Tillinghast
Just. C C Pleas

Sent to the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Joseph J. Tillinghast is a Justice of said Court, that the above is his proper signature in his own hand writing
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name & seat of office at East Greenwich this thirtieth day of November in the year 1832
John Brown Clk
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I Benjamin Remington of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island do certify that I am knowing to John Wightman having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He belonged to the same company of Militia with this deponent in said Warwick and was often drafted and served his tours of duty. That he was the warning officer of said Company and gave them notice in cases of alarms and that he did a great deal of duty on such occasions. I know also that he served as an enlisted soldier for three months and I also certify that he has always born a good character for truth. Benjamin Remington
Sent to the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Court of Common Pleas August Term AD 1832 Sworn to before the Court on the second day of the term
Witness John Brown Clk
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I Stephen Matteson of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island do certify that I served three months in the Company commanded by Capt Reuben Whitman in Col John Cook's Regiment of State troops in the fall of the year 1776 and that John Wightman of said Coventry was a soldier in said Company and served therein the same term of time. We served on Rhode Island and were driven off the Island in the month of December by the enemy. And that the said Wightman was the orderly Sergeant of said Company. Stephen Matteson

Sent to the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation Court of Common Please August Term AD 1832
Sworn to in open Court the second day of the term
Witness John Brown Clk

I Benjamin Green of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island do certify that I was a soldier in the fall of the year of 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Reuben Whitman in Col. Cook's Regiment and served therein the term of three months, and that John Wightman of said Coventry served said term of time as orderly Sergeant in said Company, we were on Rhode Island when the enemy landed and soon after driven off by them. Benjamin Green
The State of Rhode Island Providence Plantation Court of Common Please August Term AD 1832
Sworn to before the Court on the second day of the term
Witness John Brown Clk
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John Wightman
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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
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the both of Coventry and that Stephen Matteson, Benjamin Green, and Benjamin Remington of Warwick who also signed the same are residents in the County of Kent and Town aforesaid and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, John Brown, Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Wightman for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this seventh day of September in the year 1832
John Brown
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John Wightman of Coventry int he Count of Kent respectfully represents that he is now a pensioner under the Act of Congress of June 7 1832 that the number of his certificate which is 10382 that in his declaration upon which said certificate was granted he set forth that he had served in the War of the Revolution eighteen months in the Companies and Regiments stated and adduced proof of the same but his certificate is only for forty dollars per annum. He conceives that under said law his pension ought to have been sixty dollars per annum at least wherefore he respectfully requests his claim may be re[smudge]mined and a new certificate granted him and he herewith returns his old one for that purpose.
Witness
Lawton S Johnson
Marvin Leavery

his
John Wightman
mark
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Kent se 25 July 1834
Then Personally came before me the within named John Wightman signer to the within Instrument and was duly engaged to the truth of the same according to Law
Witness John Wood Justice Court Common Pleas County Kent
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Wightman which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes
VI. Has he given names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge fo the applicant's service? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

Explanatory Notes.
Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Pace, &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 his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For - year -- months and - days I served as a -. For - months and - - days, I served as a - - ; and for such service I claim a pension."
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Copy
Benj. Cowell Esqr
Pro. RI
Aug. 19 34
O. C
Rec Vol 32
 Page 196
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War Department
Pension Office
August 19 1834
Sir
In answer to your letter of the Instant I have to state that the declaration of John Wightman has been reexamined and that in said declaration he has distinctly specified 7 different tours of service making 12 months in the whole and for which 12 mo service his certificate was issued. The 18 months he states in his declaration that he performed other service at various times on frequent alarms to during the revolution which he said would amount to at least 4 months but so vague and indefinite a statement cannot be relayed as evidence the rules of the Office make it indispensably necessary that the service should be clearly specified in every particular.
His pension certificate is herewith returned.
Sig. J.L Edwards
Benjamin Cowell Esqr
Providence R.I.