Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,781, Stephen Greene, R.I.
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Service                                     Number
R. I.       Greene, Stephen           S. 21.781


Contents
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21.0[illegible]
R. Island
Stephen Greene
South Kingston in the State of R. Island
who was a sergeant  in the [illegible] commanded by Captain _____of the Reg commanded [illegible] Fry on the R. I.
for 2 years_____
Enscribed  on the Roll of Rh. Island 
the rate of 120 Dollars______Cents per annum, 
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug.
and [illegible] N. Whiting
     E. [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th Jan                   $240             
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. [illegible]  
                                                      $ 60
                                                        $300
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Gr Stiles
Book E. Vol. 2. page 111
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[illegible]
Stephen Greene
       10,973
Agent N. Whiting
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State of Rhode Island
County of Washington 
Court of Common Pleas August Term.  D.1832
on the third day of September D.1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Stephen Greene, a resident of South Kingstown in the County of Washington and 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 East Greenwich aforesaid on the Sixteenth day of January 1756. where ;he resided when he entered into the Service of the United States, and until the year 1810 when he moved to South Kingstown aforesaid where he has resided ever since.  That he has no record of his birth, but supposes that it is on Record in the Town Clerk's office in East Greenwich aforesaid,-That he was a member of the Independent Company of Kentish Guards established at East Greenwich in 1774. from the first formation of said Company , until the close of the Revolutionary War, and did duty therein as a volunteer in said War.  That on receiving information of the battle at Lexington in April 1775, said company were immediately mustered, and in a few hours they were ready to march with upwards of one hundred men for that place.  This Applicant marched with said Company, then under the command of Col James M Varnum as far as Pawtucket on the border of
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[illegible], who gave information that the battle was over and that the enemy had retreated; and we returned home to East Greenwich where we kept a guard the remainder of that year. and said Company with their own labor and at their own expense constructed a fort at the entrance of the harbour, and placed some cannon therein to prevent the entrance of the enemy into the harbour, and kept a guard there for a long time.  
This Applicant well remembers going from Greenwich to Warwick neck in the year 1776 with said Company in boats, a distance of about four miles, 
There was a vessel driven ashore by the enemy on said Warwick neck.  After an engagement of several hours with the enemy we compelled them to retreat and we took the vessel and brought her to Greenwich .  She belonged to Bristol or Warren. The company were then under the command of Col. Richard Fry.  That said Company were, on various occasions, employed in excursions into the adjacent County, in quest of Tories and suspected persons.  This claimant well remembers going to West Greenwich with a party of said Company under the command of Col. Varnum, and taking a man by the name of Harrington with a large quantity of counterfeit  money in his possession.  Said Company was often called out on alarms to Quidnessett and Potowomut neck, both in the night and also in the day time, when Capt. Wallace and others of the enemy's warlike vessels where up the River and during the whole time the enemy were in possession of Rhode Island. and head quarters were usually at East Greenwich where we kept a guard at all times except when ocs
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occasionally relieved by the militia Companies.  That in the fall of the year 1777 Applicant was with said Company under the command of Col. Richard Fry at Tiverton in General Spencer's Expedition and served there one month.  Afterwards in the Summer of 1778 he served in said Company one month on Rhode Isl and in Gen. Sullivan's Expedition.  That he was also one month, or there abouts, on Rhode Island with said Company under Col. Fry, when the French troops were at Newport in 1780 .  And this Claimant did according to his estimation, about three years of actual service in said company during said War.  He has no discharge or other Documentary evidence.
 We hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Stephen Greene
...personally came Mr. Stephen Greene the  above Subscriber on the third Day of September AD. 1832 and in in open Court declared on Solemn Oath that the above contains the truth
Witness Sam Helme Cler
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatries presented 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 him that Wanton Casey and Ezra Simmons who have signed the  aforesaid certificate are residents of the town of East Greenwich and are credible persons and that their Statement  entitled to credit
  State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations .
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Greene for a pension in Testimony whereof I have set my ....of Office the Eight day of September 1832
Sam. Helme Clk
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I Wanton Casey of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and state of Rhode Island being duly sworn do testify and say, that Stephen Greene of South Kingstown in the county of Washington, but formerly of said East Greenwich, was a volunteer in the  chartered Independent Company of  Kentish Guards at [illegible] East Greenwich from the 1774 until this deponet went  to Europe in the later part of December AD 1778, and that he did duty therein in the Revolutionary War.
Wanton Casey

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent fe  Subscribed and sworn to at East Greenwich this thirty first day of August 1832. and I certify that the Deponent's character for truth is good.
Nathan Whiting Just.  Peace

I Ezra Simmons of East Greenwich in the County of Kent, being duly sworn according to law, do testify and say, that the above named Stephan Greene was a member of the Independent Company of Kentish Guards, when I joined that Company in December 1776. and that he did duty therein as a volunteer until the close of the war, according to the best of this Deponent's recollection.
Ezra Simmons
State of Rhode Island
Kent [illegible] At East Greenwich August 31st,1832.
Witness Nathan Whiting Just. Peace
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Kent Se.  Clerks office of the Supreme Judicial Court
I certify that Nathan Whiting is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified and sworn in the town of East Greenwich and State of Rhode Island and that full faith and merit ought to be given him and his doings as such.
Christopher Johnson  Clerk
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Additional Statement
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State of Rhode Island
Washington County 
On this Twenty seventh day of May AD, 1833.  Personally appeared, before me the Subscriber, Elisha R. Potter [illegible] one of the Justices of the Peace in South Kingston, within and for the County of Washington, Stephen Green of South  Kingston in said County of Washington, an applicant for a Pension, who being first duly sworn, doth on his oath, make the following statement in addition to the Declaration made by him on the third day of September AD 1832 before the Court of Common Pleas in said County--
That he was appointed the first Sergeant of the  Independent Company of Kentish Guards, when the Company was first organized in the year 1774. and was continued and served in that capacity during the revolutionary War.  That he inadvertently omitted to state this fact in his original Declaration.-That in the year 1775 after the battle of Lexington said Company was employed in actual military Service, in guarding and training for at least six months during that year, at East Greenwich , Warwick and Quidnessett neck; That Col. James M. Varnum was the Commander of the Company, Christ. Greene Leut. Col and Hopkins Cooke Ensign. and that this claimant was on Sergeant, and served in said Company during that time.  That in the year 1776. This Applicant served in said Company not less than six Months, at East Greenwich. Warwick neck and North Kingston, in guarding and training.  Col. Richard Fry, being the Commander of said Company, CW Greene. Leut. Col. and Hopkins Cook Ens
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Ensign, That in the year 1777.  This applicant served in the aforesaid capacity in said Company and under the same officers, six months at least, one month of said time at Tiverton in Genl. Spencers Expedition and five months at East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingston.  That in the year 1778. He served in said Company, in the capacity aforesaid, under Col. Fry, and Lieut. Col William Arnold and Ensign Charles Green, six months, at least, five months at said East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingston and one month on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's Expedition; And in the year 1779. He served in said capacity, under, as he believes, the same officers, not less than six months, at said East Greenwich Warwick and North Kingston.  That in the year 1780. He served in the same capacity, and under the same officers, one month on Rhode Island and not less than five months more at East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingston.  And that in the year 1781. he served in said company in the same capacity, and under the same officers at least three months at Easts Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingston.  And that his actual military service in said Company, in guarding and training, was not less than three years and three months during the War aforesaid, for which he claiming a Pension as Sergeant during the whole of this time.
Stephan Greene
Subscribed and sworn to at South Kingston the day and year first written
Before me,
Elisha R Potter Jr.
Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Washington S.  Clerks Office Court Common Pleas and general Sessions of the Peace
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Courts  Aforesaid do hereby testify that Elisha A Potter Jun. Esq. whose Signature is hereto prefixed is a Justice of the Peace in the Town of South Kingston in the County of Washington and That aforesaid legally chosen by the General Assembly.  Confirmed by the Governor and Otherwise Qualified in the Law required that full faith and credit ought to be given to his Attestation throughout the United States of America
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of Office this Twenty Seventh day of May in the year AD 1833
Sam. Helme Clk
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10978
Stephan Greene
Sargant 2 years
P. 396 506
May 16, 1835

Nathan Whiting Esq.
East Greenwich
RI
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Brief in the case of Stephen Greene
of South Kingston in the State of R. Island
{Act 7th June 1832)
1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Open 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.
Years   Months   Days   As a       Gen
1777-1778                     Sargt     Col Fry
                                                     Gen Gibbons
                                                      Col Fry
The applicant claims for three years service
5.  In what battles was he engaged?   None

6.   Where did he reside when he entered the service?  East Greenwich R'Island
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?    Traditionary
8.   Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?   and if so, in what respect?  [illegible]
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Cutts
Examining Clerk







s
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Revolution 
21781
INVALID
File No. 21,781
Stephen Greene
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 32
Index: Vol. 2, Page 160
[Arrangement of 1870]
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10973
Stephen Greene

Claimant
South Kingston
RI
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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 their any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  No
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?  no  The claimant must specify each particular tour of actual service__
VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  no
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?  no   device
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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?

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII.  If the applicant [illegible 4 words]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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
         If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
          Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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 of the applicant's service?

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the Was Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not answered?
_______________________________
EXPLANATORY NOTES
*QUERE V.   In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely low 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, etc. 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 than 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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  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 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 they served two years in the militia, etc. 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 shewn 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 an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he 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.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
  In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the [illegible group of words]prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service; and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line in 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.
QUERE XVI.  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 paper 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.
  In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.