Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 20971, Thomas Dennis, R.I.
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(8-1776)
Service | Number
R.I. Dennis, Thomas W20971
Lydia

Contents 
[blank]
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13692
New York 4
Thomas Dennis
of Providence in the state of New York
who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Richmond of the R Island line, for the term of one year 1776

Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 25 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd of Aug [illegible]
and sent to Avery Starkwe [illegible]
Galway New York
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819 82.[illegible]
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1819 48.[illegible]
10 Mo. 6/30 4/31 $130.65

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818}

Notification sent Nov. 4th 1820 to Tho. Palmer Ballston Spa N.Y.
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1780
New York, Albany
Lydia Dennis

Widow of Thomas Dennis
who was a Private
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll of the rate of 40 Dollars
Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of September, 1843 and send to [illegible] yates
Schenectady, New York

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Rewarded in Book A.
Vol. A Page 105.
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I Thomas Dennis of the Town of Providence in the county of Saratoga in the State of New York, Do, according to the act of Congress of the United States of America, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," make the following DECLARATION under oath, that is to say : I do solemnly declare, that I am a resident citizen of thee United States, to wit, in the town, county and state aforesaid, and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of assistance from my country for support. I do further declare, that I was a private in the War of the Revolution, and that I served as such in the said war of the revolution, against common enemy, until the end of the said war. Justified [illegible] widow in the state of Rhode Island in the month of November 1775 as a private for the term of one year, and [illegible] in the said service during the said [illegible] of times.
That I belonged to the company commanded by Christopher Mauehesty [?] in a [illegible] and in the line of Rhode Island and I do further declare, that entered the said service the said month November one thousand seven hundred and seventy five and left the said service on the month of November November one thousand seven hundred and seventy six having left the same by reason of the term of enlistment having [illegible] hired that was discharged at Newport in the said State Rhode Island, that this [illegible] served at the following places right of Jamestown aforesaid on the island [illegible] and at say [illegible] in the state of New York from which said [illegible] was more had to Newport aforesaid and [illegible] there was discharged.
And I do further declare, that I hereby relinquish all claim to every and any Pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, or of any individual state. Witness my hand, this twenty fifth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Witness sworn to before me this 25th day of April 1818, Thomas Dennis
Judge of the court of common of common [illegible] of the county of Saratoga.
[No. 2 JUDGE'S CERTIFICATE]
state of New York.

County of Saratoga to wit: Be it remembered, That on the twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen in the county of Saratoga and state of New York, before me Avery [illegible] Esquire, one of the Judges of the Court of common [illegible] in and for the said county and in the said state, duly appointed, qualified and sworn, (the same court being one of the court's of record of the said state) personally came and appeared, the before named applicant Thomas Dennis who resides in the town, county and state mentioned in the above declaration, and in my presence subscribed the foregoing Declaration; and also before me then and there he was duly sworn to the truth of the facts contained and set forth in the said declaration And it appearing o my satisfaction that from the said declaration under oath of the said Thomas Dennis that the said applicant served in the Revolutionary War as in said declaration mentioned, against the common enemy, and that the declaration aforesaid under oath of the said applicant is in all other respects true, I do therefore certify and transmit the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Honorable the Secretary of the department of war, according to the requisitions of the act of congress in that case made. Given under my hand and seal, at the town of Golway [illegible] county in the state of New York, the day and year first above mentioned in this certificate. I do further certify that the said applicant is in quite reduced circumstances thy reason of the loss of one leg is altogether  unable to support [illegible] himself + stand much in need of his country [illegible] for support. Avery [illegible] of the court of common [illegible] for the county of Saratoga.
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State of New York 
Saratoga County

I Thomas Palmer clerk of the said county do certify that Avery Starkweather before whom the written affidavit & by whom the written certificate was made was at the date thereof a judge of the court of common pleas in and for the said county acting under the authority of this state and that the written is his signature. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the county seal the 27th January 1819. 
Thomas Palmer
Clerk
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State of New York
County of Saratoga
On this twenty third day of August 182[blank] personally appeared in open court in the court of common please of the said county the same being a court of record for the said county proceeding according to the course of the common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a record of its proceedings and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Denis aged sixty three years. 
---years resident in the said county in the state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that the served in the Revolutionary war as follows: that he enlisted in the army at [South Hampton] in the state of Rhode Island in the company 
commanded by Christopher Manchester [illegible] for one year I enlisted in 1775 my regiment was commanded by William Richmond I faithfully served my term and was discharged by Ensign Peleg Simmons at Newport Rhode Island I stand in November 1776. That he was in an engagement on Long Island in November 1776. 
That his original declaration was [blacked out by ink] the 25th ---day of April 1818 and that his pension certificate [blacked out by ink] thirteen thousand six hundred and ninety two. 
And I do solemnly declare that I was resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift sale or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. 
Thomas Dennis

Sworn to and declared on the 23d day of August 1826 before me in open court
Thomas Palmer
I Thomas Palmer clerk of the court of Common Pleas of the county of Saratoga do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify that is is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is forty one dollars and twelve cents. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court on this twenty third day of August 1820.
Thomas Palmer
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of [blank]
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An inventory or schedule of the property of the pensioner within named Thomas Dennis

one low cloth -- $14.00
2 hogs  -- 5.0
one axe -- .50
1 seyth & sinath -- 1.00
4 old chairs -- 1.50
1 loom harness & 4 reeds -- 5.00
2 spinning wheels -- 4.00
2 set cups & saucers -- 1.00
thisel & tongs -- 1.00
1 pr aug ines -- 1.00
1 set knives & forks -- .75
3 tin pans -- 1.00
2 earthen pans -- .37
1 chest -- 1.00
1 tin pot -- 1.00
2 kettles small -- 2.00
1 kettle tea pots -- .50
1 razor -- 12
box & brush -- 12
$41.12

Weaving appeared none except one charge
Real property I have none other than I have [illegible] or sentenced fifty acres for the term of four years from the first day of May next for which I agreed to pay fifteen dollars each year other than this I have no real estate either in law or equity - my family consist of myself aged & wife aged sixty years - Eunice Spencer and enlisted servant Gil until 18 years of age now 12 years old who a boy named Orange Fuller by verbal agreement to live with me until 16 years of age now aged 14 years - I am 4 by occupation a farmer - I am unable to earn but a small part of my necessary supply - my left leg was completely 12 years since just below the knee and having no trade I am unable to earn but very little the receipt of my pension has enable me to obtain the necessaries of life otherwise, I much have depended on private or public charity. 
Sworn to in open court
Thomas Dennis
Thomas Palmer Clerk
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8012
Lydia Dennis
N.Y.
Act of July 38
m 80. d38
[illegible]
12 [illegible]
40 $
Giles F Yates
Albany NY
[crossed out] S.H. Dudley [illegible] NY.
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State of New York
Fulton County
On this 4th day of September one thousand and eight hundred and forty one personally appeared before me Henry Guile one of the judges of the Court of Common pleas of said county Lydia Dennis a resident of the town of Ephratah in the county aforsaid aged eighty two.

Who being duly 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 pased July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows; That she is the widow of Thomas Dennis who was a private in the army of the revolution That her said husband Thomas Dennis deceased resided in the town of Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island when he entered into the service of the United States and she doth further declare that her husband the said Thomas Dennis at the time of his death was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 at the rate of eight dollars per month. That the account of the revolutionary services of the said Thomas Dennis deceased her said husband the names of the officers under whom he served and also the particular circumstances of his service will more fully appear by [illegible] to his declaration for a pension under the act aforsaid And further this [illegible] declares that she was married to the said Thomas Dennis the tenth day of September seventeen hundred and eighty That her husband the said Thomas Dennis died on the 13th day of August 1838 That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four [illegible] at the time above stated
sworn and subscribed
before me Henry Guile
her mark
Lydia Dennis X
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And I the said Judge do hereby certify that the within Named applicant Lydia Dennis can not attend court by reason of bodily infirmity and that she makes her mark as her signature by reason of never having learnt to write. 
Henry Guile
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I certify that Thomas Dennis and Lydia Crandel both of the town of Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island were lawfully joined together in marriage by me the subscriber, September tenth one thousand seven hundred and eighty, 
Jonathan Ellis, Pastor of the Congregational Church in Little Compton Rhode Island

I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows (September 10th, 1780.)
Otis Wilbor Town Clerk

State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
Town of Little Compton
I Otis Wilbor above named depose and say that I hold the office of town clerk, in the county of town and state aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said marriage with the exception above named as certified by me. 
Otis Wilbor

Sworn and subscribed at Little Compton County of Newport and State of Rhode Island before me this 13th day of August 1841. 
George C. Bailey Justice
court C.P.
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State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
I Daniel C. Denham clerk of the court of common pleas in the county of aforesaid being a court of record do hereby certify that George C. Baily is a justice of said court of common pleas in and for said county was appointed by the General Assembly and commissioned by the Governor of this state bearing date the tenth day of May 1841 and is fully authorised to act in his said capacity. And that his signature before written is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Newport this nineteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and forty one. 
Daniel C. Denham clk

fees 50-
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State of New York
County Fulton

On this 4 day of September 1841 personally appeared before me Henry Guile one of the judges of the court of common pleas in and for said county Samuel R. Dudley a resident of the town of Epharatah in the county of Fulton who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath say that he was acquainted with Thomas Dennis sated resident of said town and county That he was the husband of Lydia Dennis mentioned in her declaration hereunto named that the said Thomas Dennis husband of the said Lydia Dennis died on the 13th day of August 1838. That the said Lydia Dennis still remains the widow of the said Thomas Dennis never having been remarried since his death. 
Samuel R. Dudley
Sworn and subscribed  before me the day and year above mentioned
Henry Guile

State of New York
Fulton County
Clerk's office
I Tobias A. Stoutenburgh clerk of said county of Fulton do hereby certify that Henry Guile whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and also to an affidavit annexed was as the times thereof a judge of the county court of said county of Fulton and that the said signature purporting to be his are genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed my seal of office. Dated September 6th 1841. 
T.A. Stoutenburgh
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New York 7248

Lydia Dennis widow of Thomas Dennis who was a pensioner under the act of 18 March '18 and who died on the 13th August 1838- of Fulton Co in the State of N. York who was a private in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg.t [blank] commanded by Col: Richmond in the R. Island line for 12 months -

Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 40 dollars -- cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of May 1843 and sent to G.F. Yates Albany N. York

Arrears to the 4th of ---
Semi-annual allowance ending --
$200.00

[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Wm Stewart clerk
Book A Vol. 2 Page 75
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20971

Thos Dennis
Apr 25-1818
Providence NY

No. 75 Tiverton RI
Capt Christopher Manchester
Col. Wm. Richmond
Prt - 1 yr. 

Bat Long Island

Married Lydia Crandel
Sept. 10, 1780
(Aug 13, 1838 died)
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Dictated

Gloversville Free Library

A.L. Peck
Librarian
Gloversville NY

June 29, 1901

Hon. Chief Clerk
U.S. Pension Bureau
Washington DC

Dear Sir: 
You will greatly oblige by giving me information regarding Thomas Dennis born in Tiverton, RI, joined the Revolutionary army 1776, lost one leg in battle and was a U.S. pensioner. Please be so kind and state whether his name is found on the roll of pensioners.

Respectfully yours, 
A.L. Peck
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July 3-1901 [illegible]
A.L. Peck Gloversville N.Y.

20.971
[handwritten] Rwp
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20.971
Lydia Dennis
wid of
Thomas Dennis
Priv Rev War
Act Mar 3rd /43
Index: Vol. A, Page 177
[Arrangement of 1870]
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Thomas Dennis
Application for Pension
Private
Nov 75 to Nov 76
Richmond RI Reg
Proof of service wanted. Image must certify, to the credibility of the witness - Admitted
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State of New York Saratoga Co
Before me came Aaron Hart of [illegible] of Glaway County and State aforsaid a person to me well known and living by me first duly sworn Doth on his oath depose and say that he the deponent is well acquainted with Thomas Dennis named in the annexed Declaration and knows that the said Dennis did serve as a private the term of one year in a company commanded by Christopher Hanehester in a regiment commanded by Col William Richmond of the Rhode iland line being [inserted] the term  for which the said Dennis did enlist and was honorable discharged as stated by the said Dennis as he the deponent was a private in the same company and regiment with him the said Dennis at the same time and having then seen the said Dennises declaration and knows the facts contained in the same to be true and further deponed saith not 
Taken and [illegible] this 8th day of July 1819 before me Avery Starkweather Judg Or

[handwritten - signed] Aaron Hart

I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the ilk and character of the above named Aaron hart and I know him to be a credible and disinterested witness given under my hand this 8th day of july 1819

Avery Starkweather [illegible]
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State of New York Saratoga Co 
Samual Sowl of [illegible] State and county aforesaid a person to me well known and being of good moral caracter being duly affirmed declaims and says that he is personally acquainted with Thomas Dennis named in the annexed declaration and knows that the said Dennis served at least one year in continuance under one enlistment in a regiment commanded by William Richmond of the Rhode island line and further declaims that he the affirment was a private belonging to the same regiment at the same time and knew the said Dennis in the servis knew him before and has been acquainted with him ever since and further declaims that [inserted] he the affirment has no interest in the result of the declaration of said Dennis and further he says not
[handwritten signature] Samuel Sowl

Taken and Subscribed before me this 6th day of july 1819 Avery Starkweather [illegible]
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The Honorable Secretary of the War Department,

SIR,
The preceding Vouchers are forwarded to the War Department for the purpose of procuring the Applicant, named in such vouchers, to be placed on the PENSION LIST.

I will thank you to forward to me as soon as possible, the Certificate of the Application being granted, in the manner adopted in your department.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most obedient servant,
[signed] Avery Starkweather 

[handwritten] To be directed to me at Galway, Saratoga County, N.Y. by request of applicant.
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[handwritten]

Lydia Dennia
widow of Thomas Dennis -- under act of July 1838

renewal of application
[illegible]
Previously registered No 8.012

Giles J Yates
Atty for appl.
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To J L Edwards Esq Commissioner of pensions

The undersigned respectfully represents

The she is the widow of Thomas Dennis who served in the army of the revolution as a soldier and that she is the same person who is an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838. That she was denied her pension because she was not a widow when the said act [illegible], but her husband died after [illegible] of said act. [illegible] on the 13th day of August 1838. That she now makes a renewal of her application for a pension and has appointed Atty Giles F Yates Esq. of Schenectady her attorney to conduct her claim.
Subscribed and sworn this 21st day of March 1843   before me Samuel R Dudley Charter of the peace
her mark
X 
Lydia Dennis

State of New York
Fulton County Clerk's Office
I Steven Wait Clerk of the said county of Fulton do hereby certify that Samuel R Dudley the person before whom the above and foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken and who subscribes the same as justice of the peace was at the time of taking the same a justice of the peace in and for the said county, [illegible] duly elected and sworn, and by the laws of the state of New York duly authorised to take the same, and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said justice, and that his hand writing subscribed to the said affidavit  is his genuine signature. In [illegible] whereof I have hereto set my name and affixed the seal of said county this 21st day of March 1843. S Wait Clerk
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[illegible]

Lydia Dennis widow of Tho. Dennis under Act of 3rd March 1848.

Declaration
$40 per ann

G F Yates Atty
Schenectady N. York
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State of New York
County of Fulton

On this 7th day of June 1843 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County Lydia Dennis, a resident of the town of Euphrata  in said county aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of congress passed this 3rd day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war; that she is the widow of Thomas Dennis who was a private in the revolutionary war and served in manner and for the terms set forth in her papers in the matter of her application for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838 That she received a pension under the said act last named of $40 per annum. And she further declares that is still a widow. Witness Abm Van Horne 
Her Mark
X
Lydia Dennis
Subscribed and sworn this 7th day of June 1843 before me and I further certify that said Lydia Dennis is to me well known to be the person she describes herself to be in the above declaration. Samuel R Dudley Justice of the peace

State of New York
Fulton County Clerk's Office
I Stephen Wait Clerk of the said County of Fulton do hereby certify that Samuel R Dudley the person before whom the foregoing declaration purports to have been taken + who subscribed the certificate following the same was at the date and time of taking the same, an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County, dwelling in said County and by the laws of said State duly authorised to take the same, And that his name subscribed above is his genuine signature. Per testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County this 7th day of June of 1848 S. Wait Clerk
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To J L Edwards [illegible]
Comm of Pensions
Washington DC
Page 27

April 1st 1843
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir.
Mrs Lydia Dennis widow of Thomas Dennis has had her claim for a pension under the act of 7 July 1838 pending for a long time. It has been hitherto denied because her husband died subsequent to the passage of said act. This objection no longer obtaining, she renews her application.
I am respectfully, Your Obt serv GJ Yates
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[sideways] Mar 9 43 NY Lydia Dennis
Hon J.L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington

Garoga NY 
4 March
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Garoga Fulton County New York March 3 1843
Dear Sir
I understand that Congress has past an amendment to the act in relation to pensions granted to the surviving widows of deceased persons if so please forward to me by mail such amendments and alterations of the rules of the pension Department as have been made since the act of July 7 1838 And also inform me whether Lydia Dennis widow of Thomas Dennis deceased whose application was denied in 1841 and whether her papers remain in the office yet and if she could under the present act be entitled to a pension What other evidence or testimony is necessary to entitle her to a pension. An answer as soon as your [illegible] will permit is respectfully asked.
Your obedient & Honorable servant
Samuel R. Dudley

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington
Page 30

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington
Page 31

Sir
Enclosed is an application for a pension for the widow Lydia Dennis and should they not be correct or sufficient please write me immediately that I may correct them. Should they be correct and sufficent please [illegible] her certificates [illegible] 
S.R. Dudley Garoga Fulton County N.Y.
September 6th 1841
S.R. Dudley

Hon J.L. Edwards