Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22289, for John Spooner, Rhode Island
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R.I. Spooner, John     N22289
Hannah
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Rhode Island 1735
Hannah Spooner widow of John Spooner De'ed
R.I. who was a pensioner under the Act of {blank{ and who died in the month of May, 1811, of Providence in the State of R. Island, who was a private in the comp'y commanded by Captain H. Dayton of the {blank} commanded by {blank} in the R. Island line for 6 months private. 

Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 20 Dollars and no cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1936.

Certificate of Pension issued on the 30th day of January 1839 and sent to Hon. Dutee J. Pearce, Newport, R. I. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1838 = $50.00
Semi-annual allowance 
ending the [illegible] '39                    10.00
                                                            $60.00
{Act July 7, 1838}
REcorded by S. A. Elliott, Clerk
Book A, Vl. 2, Page 23
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N 2295
1735
Hannah Spooner widow of John
R. I.
Act 7 July '38
aomd
6 mo pri
no deduction
Dutee J Pearce, Esq. 
Newport, R.I. 
[illegible] Rebecca [illegible] R.I. aomd abt 7 July 38 No. 1747
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The Declaration of Hannah Spooner of Newport in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island widow of John Spooner, late of said Newport, a soldier of the Revolution, deceased; In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain "widows."
State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations, Newport
On this third day of October AD 1838, personally appeared before me the undersigned Joseph Joslen, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Newport (the said court being a court of record) Hannah Spooner of Newport, aforesaid widow of John Spooner, late of the same place, a soldier of the revolution, deceased, who being by me the said Judge , first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed the 7th day of July 18."
38, entitled "An act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows."
That she is the widow of John Spooner, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; that she was married to him on the 28th of February AD  in the town of Portsmouth on the Island of Rhode Island by Elder William Bliss; that before marriage her name was Hannah Coggeshall, that she is now in the 76th year of her age; that her husband, the said John Spooner, died in May 1811, in said Newport, who was at that time about fifty-one or fifty-two years of age; that since the death of her husband she has remained unmarried; - that she was not married to the said John Spooner previous to his leaving the service of his country; but her marriage took place previous to the first of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety- four [illegible] at the time above stated.  That from all she can learn, and as well as from she has frequently heard her said husband, the said John Spooner, say, she verily believes that he entered as a soldier in Captain Henry Dayton's company in the the fall of the year 1781, say. in October or November, of that year, or the year when said company was organised and [illegible]; and that he served therein as a soldier as aforesaid, the full term of six months, when he was honorably discharged.  That to what Regiment, if any, said company was attached she does not know but had always
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understood that it was [illegible] for the defense of the United States in general, and for the defenses of the Island of Rhode Island in particular. That the said Dayton was a captain of the same; James Miller was a lieutenant, and William Bliss was an Ensign; that is to say, when her said husband, the said John Spooner joined the same, as a soldier of the same.  That it is not in her power to state with more precision the name or rank of this person, an accord of whose device this claim is presented, the day, month or year when he entered the service of his and the time when he left it.  That she believes that her said husband, when he joined said company belonged to, and was a citizen of the Town of Newport and when he left the same, that he returned to said Newport.  That his enlistment was a voluntary one as a soldier. That she knows nothing of the battles in which he was engaged, or the country which through he marched, or any further particulars that might be found useful in this investigation of him [illegible]. And she further states that she has no documentary evidence in support of her said claim. 
Hannah Spooner
The foregoing Declaration was sworn to and subscribed by the above ah Hannah Spooner, whom I believe to be a person of good credibility, and on account of her age and infirmity, at her residence on the day and  year therein written, before me.
Joseph Joslen
C, Ins. C. C. Pleas
Newport
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I, Thomas Coggeshall of Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, DO upon solemn oath declare and say, that I am now in the Eightieth year of y age. That Hannah Spooner, who before her marriage with John Spooner, now deceased, was Hannah Coggeshall, is my sister.  That she is now in the Seventy-six year of her age. That since the death of the said John Spooner, which took place in May Eighteen Hundred and eleven, she has remained a [illegible] sole, and has never been married to any one.  
That she is now the widow of said John Spooner and unmarried- that the said John Spooner died at Newport aforesaid in the month of May, One thousand eight hundred and eleven, the day I do not now recollect. I was at his funeral, he being my brother-in-law and have full recollection of the month and year in which he died.  The said John Spooner was married to my said sister Hannah, now his widow and an applicant for a pension in consequence of his services in the Revolution, February twenty-eighth, Seventeen hundred and ninety.  
That I did not see them married, but have no doubt of the fact, the Parties about that time left Newport for the Town of Portsmouth, on the Island of Rhode Island to be married; returned as Man and Wife, and always till the day of his death lived together as such  - and as such had six children - that in a  family record of Deaths and Marriages kept by my father and in his possession till the time of his death, which since that time has been in mine, I find in the hand-writing of my said Father, Gideon Coggeshall now deceased, the following entry: 
"February 28th day, Seventeen hundred and 90, the John Spooner and Hannah Coggeshall were married, by William Bliss."  And I do further say that the said William Bliss was the Pastor.
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Pastor of one of the Church on this Island for a long time, has been dead for a great number of years, and that his book of Register of Marriages, I have never been able to find, or have access to - that in the Town Records of this Town, there is to be found no records of the marriage of said John Spooner and Hannah Coggeshall.  It not heretofore having been a general practice have [illegible] ages therein recorded, nor is it now. 
I was well acquainted with the said John Spooner, and knew him will from the time that he was quite young, to the day of his death. 
I know that during the Revolutionary War he was a soldier in Captain Henry Dayton's Company, but how long he served therein, or in what capacity I am unable to say. 
Newport  October third, Eighteen Hundred and thirty eight.  
Thomas Coggeshall
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport

At Newport on this the third day of October, A.D. 1838 - Personally appeared the above written Thomas Coggeshall, a person of good credibilty, and after being duly sworn, according to law, testified to the truth of the foregoing declaration in all its parts, and subscribed the same, before me, 
Joseph Joslen
C. Jus. CC. Pleas
Newport
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I Peleg Barker of the town of Portsmouth in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island in my eighty second year on solemn oath declare as follows:
I, and John Spooner of Newport in the County of Newport enlisted together in the fall of the year A.D. 1780 into the company of Captain Henry Dayton and after we both had served in that company the term of six months we were both discharged in the spring following.  Said Spooner was I believe five or six years younger than myself.  
Peleg Barker
Newport at Portsmouth Sept. 17th A.D. 1838
Personally came the above written Peleg Barker and after being duly sworn and carefully examined gave the foregoing deposition which was reduced to writing in his presence by me, and subscribed by him before me. 
Borden Slocum
Jus. C.C. Pleas
Newport Sc. Portsmouth Sept. 17th, 1838
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the above written Peleg Barker and believe his character to good for truth and veracity.
Borden Slocum
Just. C.C. Pleas
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I, Nathaniel Smith, of the town and county of Newport in my seventy fifth year, on solemn oath declare as follows:
I and John Spooner of Newport in the county of Newport enlisted together in the Fall of the year 1781 into the company of Capt. Dayton, and after we both had served in the that company the term of six months, we were both discharged in the Spring following.  The said Spooner was, I believe, about the same age as myself. 
Nathaniel Smith

Newport,  at Newport Sept. 13th A,D, 1838
Personally came the above written Nathaniel Smith and after being duly sworn and carefully examined gave the foregoing deposition which was reduced to writing by me in his presence and subscribed by him, before me,
Joseph Joslen, 
C. Jus. C.C. Pleas
Newport
Newport [illegible] at Newport Sept. 14th A. D. 1838.
I further certify that I have reason to believe that the above written Nathaniel Smith is a credible person. 
Joseph Joslen
C. Jus. C. C. Pleas
Newport
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I, Mary Hall of Newport in the county of Newport, and state of Rhode Island, upon solemn oath declare and say, that I am the widow of Benjamin Hale, late of said Newport, deceased, that I am now in the sixty fifth year (65th year) of my age. That Hannah Spooner, the widow of John Spooner, a soldier of the Revolution, on account of whose service as such, she the said Hannah is an applicant for a pension, is my sister- that the said Hannah and the said John Spooner, were married as I have always understood and truly believe, although I did not see them married, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety; they always lived together as man and wife until his death which took place in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven. That nobody doubted them being man and wife, and that they were married at the time aforesaid, and when he died, he left five children by the said Hannah born as was always understood in lawful wedlock. That since his death she the said Hannah has always remained his widow [illegible]. 
Mary Hall 
(over)
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State of  Rhode Island &c County of Newport
At Newport on this third day of October A. D. 1838, Personally appeared the within written Mary Hall, a woman of good credibility, and after being duly sworn, according to law, testified to the truth of the foregoing declaration in all its part, and subscribed the same before me. 
Joseph Joslen
C. Jus. C.C. Pleas
Newport
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I Jonathan J. Almy of Newport in the county of Newport & state of Rhode Island in the fifty seventh year of my age, being first duly sworn do  before oath declare that I was well acquainted with John Spooner a soldier of the Revolution and Hannah his wife. That the said John died at Newport aforesaid in the year 1811 and that said Hannah has remained ever since unmarried and his widow.  [illegible] them as far back as the year 1791 at which time they [[illegible] as man and wife, and were previously married as I always understood and verily believed.  I did not see them married but have no doubt they were married [illegible] and always after to the day of his death passed as man and wife. And as such has several children that were [illegible] when he died. 
I further declare that now [illegible] as aforesaid.  
Jonathan T. Almy
(over)
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State of Rhode Island 
&c. County of Newport

At Newport this the third day of October A.D. 1838 Personally appeared this within written Jonathan T. Almy, a person of good credibility and after being duly sworn according to the law, testified to the truth of the of the foregoing declaration in all its part, and subscribed the same before me. 
Joseph Joslen
C. Jus. C.C. Pleas
Newport
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Newport Oct. 4th 1838
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: 
In this case, as you will see, we ask only for the widow's mite; and that I think you cannot withhold. Smith and Parkin prove the service by their positive declaration, who were in Dayton's company six months with Spooner, the husband of Mrs. Spooner, the prescribing applicant. 
Thomas Coggeshall the brother swears, also, that Spooner was a soldier in said company, but how long he could not tell. So much as to the service.
Thomas Coggeshall, Hannah Hall & Jonathan T. Almy, prove the death of Spooner. That the applicant has remained his widow and unmarried ever since, and they also prove the marriage as strongly as marriage can be proved when the witnesses who swear to the same were not present to see the ceremony performed.  Send when issued the certificate to, 
Your obedient servant, 
Dutee J. Pearce
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY:
William Sprague
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of thE  State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN
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State of Rhode Island
Secretary's Office Oct. 5, 1838
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday in May last, Joseph Joslin was elected Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas with the County of Newport, and Borden Slocum Associate Justice of said Court, for one year each, and commissioned accordingly, as appears of record in this office. 
Witness Henry Bowen Secr'y
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Spooner
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Newport Jan'y 23d 1839
J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir, 
Your [illegible] of the 12th [illegible] upon the subject of the application for a pension of Hannah Spooner, wife of John Spooner, we had the honour to receive some few days ago; but have not, until now, found leisure to reply to it.  
It seems that the application is suspended, mainly because there is no evidence accompanying it; that there was such a company as Dayton's for the defence of R.Island, for the term of six months; and that the names of the officers of such company are not stated in the documentation of the application. 
As what is asked for is very little, respectfully submitted that, in this case, what has been proved over and over again, and recognized as sufficiently proved, by the Ware Department, will not be required to be again proved. 'The claim is so small', as was said by Lord [illegible] in another case "It will not pay for the candles."
But I would refer you to another case, the papers of which are now on your files, and which [illegible' received the favorable action of the War Department, for all your have
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required in this case. The case of Mrs. Alger- you will there find the depositions of James Miller
and William Bliss that Dayton's company was originally raised for six months only, the nature of their duties, and the length of the term of the same.  These men were both Officers of said company.  Appended to the case of Mrs. Alger, you will find transcripts from the Public Records of the State, certified by the Secretary thereof, [illegible] how this Company was raised, the nature of the services, and that Dayton was in Command of it six months.  It is to be hoped that this reference will remove all objections on your part, as well as the suspension that has been made, and cause the certificate to be issue. 
With great respect, 
Your very obt Servant, 
Dutee J. Pearce
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V.2295
Hannah Spooner, of John
R.I. 
Act of July, 1838
Suspended
See Let. to Hon. D.J. Pearce
Jan'y 12, 1839
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Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File NO. 22,289
Hannah Spooner Widow of John Spooner
Priv. Rev. War
Act of July 7, 1838
Index: Vol M, Page 236
{Arrangement of 1870}
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Hon. J.L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
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Newport December 28, 1838
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir, 
I am sorry that at her request I am under the necessity of calling your attention to the application of Hannah Spooner, widow of John Spooner, for a pension. The papers have been with you for some time, she seeks for but a little, and I pray you to accord that little to her [illegible] as your commission warrants. 

With great respect, 
Your very obedient servant, 
Dutee J. Pearce