Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,240, Stephen Blackmar, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
R.I.

Blackmar, Stephen

NUMBER
S12,240 ✓

Carded ✓

CONTENTS
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31828

Connecticut

Stephen Blackmar of Hebron in the state of Conn who was a private in the compy commanded by Captain Burlingame of the Regt commanded by Col. [blank] in the R. I. Militia line for 6 mos 1 days.

Inscribed on the roll of Connecticut at the rate of 21 dollars 44 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of pension issued the 24 day of Feby 1841, and sent to S. Gilbert Esq. Hebron, Con.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1841 $204.44
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 10.22
=====
$214.66
=====

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by D. McCandy Clerk, 
Book C2 Vol. 3 Page 6.
Page 3

State of Connecticut Tolland County } ss Hebron Probate District

On this 11th day of May AD 1838 personally appeared in open Court - Stephen Blackmar a resident of Hebron in the county of Tolland and state of Connecticut aged 93 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and service as herein stated
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and serve as herein stated.
That about the middle of October 1776 while living in the town of Gloucester in the county of Providence & state of Rhode Island he was drafted for a tour of duty at Providence for thirty days in the 4th company of Rhode Island Militia Commanded by Stephen Winsor that said company was divided into two divisions and served alternately that he belonged to the second division and was marched to Providence and there stationed under Lieutenant Isaac Ross in Col. Chad Browns Regiment that he remained in the service the term of thirty days when he was discharged leaving served thirty days as a private
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That soon after he returned from the aforesaid service the division of s'd Company to which he belonged was again called upon to take the place of the first Division & that he was marched with s'd division under Lieut. Isaac Ross & stationed at Providence sometime in the month of December 1776 & that from s'd Decr 1776 he served alternately with s'd first division to June 1777 making three months that he served from the month of 1776 to June 1777 that as near as he can recollect the tours of service were for 20 and thirty days each that during his said service he was stationed as guard to the service of Gen.l Lafayett
That sometime in July or August 1777 he was called out with his division under Lieut. Ross for a term of service of thirty days & was marched to Providence and stationed at Providence & Bristol where he remained for the term of 34 days After other divisions of his company not leaving arrived until 4 days after his term had experienced for which he was drafted. 
That about the first of August 1778 he was drafted for a tour of duty of thirty days and was marched on to the Island and stationed at Howland Ferry in a
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company commanded by Statler Burlingham in Col Chad Browns Regt. and at the expiration of thirty days he was landed at Bristol and discharged having served thirty days as a private.
That between the month of Octr 1776 and the month of Octr 1778  he was at other and diverse times called & served short tours of duty as aforesaid of which by reason of age and loss of memory he can not give the dates
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year above written
[signed] Stephen Baker
Stephen Blackman
Declaration

State of Connecticut Tolland County } ss Hebron Probate District
I certify that on this 11th day of May 1838 personally appeared in open Court Stephen Blackmar signer of the foregoing Declaration & made oath in due form of law that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of s'd court the day & year last above written. 
[signed] Cyrus Mann Judge 

[illegible Court Seal attached at above right]

(written in left margin, on edge)
Stephen Blackmar declaration
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Prudy Chapman's 
Affidavit
Page 7

Prudy Capman of Hebron in Tolland County Connecticut aged 59 years being duly sworn Testifies & says, that she is the daughter of Stephen Blackmar of s'd Hebron and resides with him and has always been perfectly acquainted with his circumstances & affairs, and the reasons he did not sooner apply for a pention are that for some time after the law was made by which he might draw a pension he was in affluent circumstance and did not need nor wish aid from his Country and besides is in some measure illiterate & did not read news papers & did not for some time after the enactment of Pension Law know his rights but having by misfortune lost a great part of his property he was advised by his friends of the Statutes of Congress & advised to apply for a Pension. 
Jany 16th 1841
[signed] Pruda Chapman

State of Connecticut Tolland County } ss
Personally appeared Pruda Chapman before the the subscriber a Notary Public for the state aforesaid & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by her presents & I certify she is a person of truth & her statement is entitled to credit. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 16th day of Jany 1841
[signed] Abner Hendle Notary Public
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Sat. Lycouster Gilbert
Jun 12 '39
Semi - July 23 ' 39

Act 7 June 32
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Stephen Blackmar 93✣ 
76 1 mo. Mnsn Brown
leave 76 3 mo. L. Ross
age 77 1. 4 L. Ross
age 78. 1 Stahly Burlingam
Act 78 6. 4
✣ See Roll of Capt
Burlingame "Stephen
Blackmar 1778 age 32 years"
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12240
Rev War INVALID. [illegible initials]

File No. 12, 240
Stephen Blackmar
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832
Index: Vol. A, page 35

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11

Stephen Blackmar S.F. 12, 240

Three lists of men under Capt. David Burlinggame dated March 31, 1778, March 12, 1779 & October 8, 1779, have been removed from this case for the purpose of transferring the same to the War Dept. at some future date - they may be found in the safe in the room of the Chief of the Old War and Navy Division. 

Nov. 18, 1903. 
[blurry amn?] J. S.C.
Page 12

H Com't  Oct 27
Stephen Blackmar
Act 1832

[illegible] Oct 23rd

James L. Edwards Esqr
Pension Commis'r
War Department
Pension Office Washington

FREE
Page 13

Hebron Oct'r 22nd 1838

Sir, 
I send you Stephen Blackmar's Papers by his request, and as he is unable to transacts business, you are respectfully requested to communicate & send to me the result, being with esteem very respectfully
your most obed't
[signed] Sylvester Gilbert
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Stephen Blackmar
Conn
June 7, 1832
Allan Comd 4 days
$20.44 per annm
R.I. Militia Capt. 
S. Burlingame  ser
Roll within

[signed] Sylv Gilbert Esq
Hebron 
Conn
Page 15

34755
Stephen Blackmars
Papers
Con
Act 7 June 32.
Page 16

I Mary Bates of Tolland County and State of Connecticut aged 80 years do depose and say that in the year 1776 I was living in the town of Gloucester and was well acquainted with Stephen Blackmar there living in Gloucester Rhode Island that sometime in 1776 near the close of the year I well remember that s'd Stephen Blackmar was drafted for a tour of duty in the militia at Providence and that he left home and was absent from about December until my father was planting. that the then s'd Stephen returned on furlough & stayed a short time & then returned to the Army and that after he returned to the Army he sent word back to my father who was his wive's Father that he must support and take care of his wife and two children that he could not return at that time and the deponent cannot tell how long he did remain and that my father did bring home the s'd Blackmar's wife and children and supported them during the time the s'd Blackmar remained in the service. And that I well remember the first week in August 1778 the said Stephen Blackmar had his third child born that he was there at home on a furlough that the said expired three days before the s'd child was born and he left his wife there living in the house of my father at Gloucester Rhode Island but was long he had been in the service or how long he remained I cannot remember but according to my best recollection he was absent all winter. 
[signed] Mary Bates
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State of Connecticut Tolland County } ss Hebron Probate District

Personally appeared Mary Beates signer of the foregoing affidavit and made oath that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth & this Court certifies that the s'd May Beates is a person of truth & her statement entitled to credit. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of s'd Court this 11th day of May 1838. 
[signed] Cyrus Mann Judge

[partly illegible Court Seal attached.
[can read HEBRON]
Page 18

I Jeremiah Prous of Burrillville in the county of Providence & state of Rhode Island aged 88 years being firstly engaged according to law do testify & say that I was a Lieutenant and Ensigner,  Sargent & I in the army of the Revolution and am now a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7th 1832. I served in Capt. Stephen Winsors company Col. Chad Brown's regiment Rhode Island militia. I further say that I was well acquainted with Stephen Blackmar who resided in that part of town of Gloucester in said county now called Burrillville and belonged to the same company with me - when drafts were made from said Company for the purpose of guarding the shores of Bristol the Island of Rhode Island Tiverton &c our half of said company was generally drafted at a time the said Stephen Blackmar did not belong to the same division of the company with me, said Blackmar was subject to drafts with the rest of the company and I have no recollection of any difficulty in regard to his promptly obeying his calls - From old age and the consequent loss of memory I am not able to state in regard to any particular terms of the said Blackmar service although I have no doubt that said Blackmar was with me in some status when the whole company was called upon - I further say that I do not recollect of anyone now living who belonged to the same division in our company with said Blackmar removed from this State to the State of Connecticut more than forty years since. 
[right] his
[right] Jeremiah  X   Prous [X being his mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence County Burrillville July 9th 1837

Be it known that on the day & year above mentioned before me Jesse S. Goulellot a Public Notary in and for  said county of Providence duly authorised commissioned & sworn to administer oath and take depositions residing in Gloucester in said county, personally appeared Jeremiah Prous above named who in my presence sub-bed[sp] the above deposition by making his mark [illegible] Prous being from old age & bodily infirmity made his name and made solemn oath to the truth  of
[part of bottom torn off]
Page 19

the Statement in the aforegoing deposition. And I hereby Certify that the said Jeremiah Prous is well known to me that he is a credible person and that his Statements are entitled to full credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of my said office on the day & year last above written. 
[signed] Jesse S. Goulellat Public Notary

[bottom of page, on edge]
34755
Stephen Blackmars 
Papers
Conn
Act 7 June 32.
Page 20

Stephen Blackmar
Conn.
Page 21

I Jeremiah Mowry of Smithfield County of Providence and State of Rhode Island & now 77 years of age on oath do testify and say I was well acquainted with Stephen Blackman formally of Gloucester R. I. now Hebron State of Connecticut in the war of the Revolution.
I well remember In the later part of the year 1776 or the fore part 1777 in the winter my farther [father] sent me to Providen to carry [carry] some provisions to an elder Brother of mine and said Blackmar tho I was not old enough to do Duty my Self-- I well recollect Said Blackmarr was stationed there that winter for he sent a gun home by me at one time but how long he Served I do not recollect and the Officers he Served, he was Station at Joseph Browns house in Providence when I was there - I further SaySsaid Blackmarr was Drafted and hired a number of times after the above tour and went down.
I do not recollect the perticular months and years except the above Stated or the length of Service he was a private his residence in Gloucester now Burrillville and adjoining Town to Smithfield
Stationed about 18 miles from home
[signed] Jeremiah Mowry

Providence County State of Rhode Island } ss May 8th AD 1840
Then came Jeremiah Mowry and made oath to the truth of the above Aaffidavit by him Subscribed in my presence I further Certify Said Jeremiah Mowry is well known to me and is a Competent and Credible witness
Before me
[signed] George Aldrich 3rd Justice of the Peace
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I Henry Mowry of Mindon County of Worcester Common Wealth of Mass now at Smithfield State of Rhode Island now 79 years of age on oath do depose and Say - I was well acquainted with Stephen Blackmar in the war of the Revolution and knowed of his serving several tours as a followers (viz) In August 1778 General Sullivan's expedition I well remember of his serving one month in the same regiment with me and was in the fight on the Island of Rhode Island in Colonel Chad Brown's regiment the Capt. he served under I do no recollect this town I well recollect about 45 miles from home stationed on the Island of Rhode Island and we received rations of pay he served in the capacity of a private - Said regiment contained about five hundred rank and file - said Blackmar was drafted this month - I further say he served several other towns before the above mentioned town and after wards was drafted and hired but at this distant period I cannot recollect all of the particular months and officers he was [illegible] when heart was hanged and when general Lafayett was at Rhode Island. 
[signed] Henry Mowry

State of Rhode Island County of Providence } ss May the 8th AD 1840
Then came before me Henry Mowry and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him, subscribed in my presence I further certify said Henry Mowry is well known to me and is a competent and credible witness. 
[signed] George Aldrich 3rd Justice of the peace
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Providence sc.

Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas.

I John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County of Providence, being a Court of record, do hereby Certify that George Aldrich 3'd Esquire before whom the two Annexed Depositions were sworn, is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Smithfield in said County of Providence; that he is by law duly authorized & qualified to administer oaths and take depositions; and that his two afore written signatures are genuine. 
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of our said court at the City of Providence this ninth day of May AD 1840.
[signed] John W. Smith Clerk

[illegible Court Seal attached at left]
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FREE

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Pension Commissioner
War Department Washington 

June 15
Stephen Blackmar

Ans'd on Margn 
of a Circular 
June 15 1839
Page 25

Connecticut Hebron June 10th 1839

Sir, 
In the month of November 1838 I sent to the Pension Office Stephen Blackmar's application for a pension, with accompanying Documents, but have not yet, after the lapse of seven months heard any thing of it. 
The old man is my neighbor and anxious to know whether he can taste the fruits of his services before he dies. 
Be so good as to inform your obedient & humble Servant. 
[signed] Sylvester Gilbert
Page 26

FREE

July 23

Hon James L. Edwards,
Pension Commissioner 
War Department 
Washington
D. C. 

Hebron CT
July 18th
Page 27

Hebron July 18th 1839
Sir,
Your report of the Case of Stephen Blackmar of the 12th Ultimo is received, and although it is next to impossible to supply all the requirements, at this long distance of time since the service was performed, yet if you will please to return the papers to me that I may know the cases[sp] - I can give directions to the old man what to search after in the State of Rhode Island where he must send, at great expence, to explore the necessary proofs.
The reason of his not applying sooner, is that some years past he did not feel the want of a Pension being then in easy circumstance, & also very ignorant of his rights
I hope that on a review of the papers, it may be granted without further trouble to the superannuated Applicant, or the papers returned to me
I have the honor to be, your most obedient
[signed] Sylvester Gilbert
Page 28

I Richard Burlingame of Glouster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island seventy one years of age these are my Fathers Papers,  David Burlingame Captain of Glocester in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight and seventy nine. Stickely Burlingame was not the Captain, but was my Father Brother. David Burlingame was Captain in the revolutionary war
The names on these three papers are men that served under my father in the revolutionary war 
I was out on tour the last time was in Newport
[signed]  Richard Burlingame

Providence ss At Glouster November the 18th AD 1840
Then personally appeared Richard Burlingame signer to the above Deposition and after being cautioned made Solemn oath to the truth of the same before me Horatio Stocke Justice of the Peace
I hereby Certify that the above named Richard Burlingame Signer to the above Deposition has always been considered to be a man of truth and veracity and have known him for a number of years and have deposed[sp] him and that the three paper mentioned above and herewith attached were presented to him in my presence
[signed] Horatio Stocke Justice of the Peace
Page 29

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office Decem 14. 1840

I, Henry Bowen, Secretary of said State and Keeper of the records and the seal thereof. 
Do certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said state holden on the first Wednesday of May last Horatio N. Cooke was elected a Justice of the Peace for the town of Glocester in the County of Providence for one year and commissioned accordingly as appears of record. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said State at Providence the day and year above written. 
[signed] Henry Bowen

[illegible Court Seal attached upper left]
Page 30

[page turned over writing] ...th 1841

Hebron, Ct. 
Jan'y 19th

[written crossways]
Jan. 22 1841

Ct. 
Add f'ff
Stephen Blackman


The Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office - War Department
Washington
Page 31

Hebron Jan'y 19th 1841

Sir

I now send you additional evidence in favor of Stephen Blackmar's claim for a pension.   I believe it was two years last Oct. the first application was made; and July 3rd, 1839, is the date of the last communications I have had from the Pension Office respecting it.   Poverty & inability to send into Rhode Island for Evidence is the reason of so long delay for obtaining the evidence now sent.   The applicant's name will be several times found in the old rolls inclosed (sic).  I hope that the slight mistake of S. Blackmar, stating Stickly for David Burlingame Cap't. may not be considered material.  Stickly & David were brothers as appears by Deposition inclosed (sic).  And though the whole time of service cannot be exactly proved at this late date, yet hope he may recover so much time as is proved, & that an answer in due time may be sent to your most obedient 
[signed] Sylvester Gilbert