Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9473, Oliver Harris, R.I.
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SERVICE

R.I.

Harris, Oliver
Mary Ann

NUMBER

W. 9473

B.L. Wt. 2084-160-55
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R.J.       Harris, Oliver       W.9473
                        Mary Ann     B.Lo.Wt 2084-160-55
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1251

Rhode Island
Oliver Harris of Providence in the state of R.I. who was a private in the company commanded by captain Wm Jones of the reg.t commanded by C.L. Lippet in the R.I. line for 2 (years) Feb 1776.

Inscribed on the roll of R.I. at the rate of 80 dollars -- cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of pension issued the 30th day of October 1832 and sent to Benjamin Cowell Providence R.I. 

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   $120
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  $40
$160

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

recorded by J.H. Mc Blair clerk
Book D Vol. 3rd Page 116
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371
Rhode Island
Mary Ann Harris widow of Oliver Harris R.I. who served in the Revolutionary war as a private. 

Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 80 dollars oo cents per annum to commence on the 3d February 1853.

Certificate of pension issued the 13th day of May 1853 and sent to J.L. Pitman Providence R.I. 

Recorded on roll of pensioners under act July 29, 1848
Page 54 Vol. A
1832
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1234 Act March -- 3/55
March -- 14/55

Mary Ann Harris (widow) Oliver Harris, Rev. War, Priv. 

The said Oliver Harris is set forth in this declaration as a Revolutionary Pensioner  tath she at this time receives a pension from the W.D - she also makes referend to the pension office to establish her claim ---
War of Revolution

Capt. Wm. Jones 
Col. Christopher Sippett/ R.I. Cont.l line

admit 160 acc july 6'/55
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O. Harris
No. 3406
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Rhode-Island District, sc.
County of Providence
On this 12 day of July A.D. 183 personally  appeared in open Court, being a special
District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session-- Oliver Harris a resident of Cumberland in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island 73 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 7, 1832, viz.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That in January 1776 he enlisted a private in Capt Jonathan Brownells Company Col Lippitts regiment for one year and he served until his time expired and the regiment then being in New Jersey and the army much reduced at the earnest solicitation of Gen Washington he served one month longer and were discharged at Chatham in that State-- he was in the battles of White plain of Princeton and Lenton soon after he came home he served one month at
Providence in Capt Wilmots company of Militia
and a major Richmond had command of the
Regiment. In the month of October 1777 he
enlisted in Spencers expedition in Capt Amos
Whipple & Col Chad Brown Regiment Militia in
which he served one month- In June 1778 he
enlisted as a private in Capt Caleb Cons  Company & Col Crary regiment of Rhode Island troops for nine months and he served until his time expired -- In 1782 he enlisted for another month in the company of Capt D Mowry & Col Pecks company of Militia and served until his time expired - he has no written discharges. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid witness Benja Cowell to Oliver Harris
Personally appeared in open Court Amariah
Weatherhead of Cumberland & maketh oath
that he served thirteen months in Cole
Christopher Lippetts regiment & he will
remembers Olive Harris who served
in said Regiment also for the same but
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Personally appeared in open Court Amaziah
Weatherhead of Cumberland & maketh oath
that he served thirteen months in Col. Christopher Lippitts regiment & he will
remembers Oliver Harris who served in said Regiment also for the sum of time, this fact is within his perfect recollection said Harris now lives in Cumberland 
Amaziah Weatherhead

and the said Amaziah further maketh oath that he also served in the same company with said Oliver in Capt Caleb Carrs Company & Col Crarys regiment nine month as said she has
stated in his declaration-
Amariah Weatherhead

Charles Scott maketh oath that he is with
well acquainted Oliver Harris & knows that he served in Col Lippetty of Crarys Regiments as stated in his declaration having himself to served in the same Company regiments with him for the same length of time -- 
Said Charles further maketh oath
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stated in his declaration-
Amariah Weatherhead

Charles Scott maketh oath that he is with well acquainted Olin Harris & knows that he served in Col Lippetty & Crarys Regiments as stated in his declaration having himself served in the same company regiments with him for the same length of time 
said Charles further maketh oath
that he knows of said Harris serving in Col Pecks regiment and also in Spencers Expedition in Col Chad Browns regiment having also served in them himself for the same length of time 
Sworn to in open Court
Charles Scott
Blowell Clk
Scott

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was very soldier, and
served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Amazed Wetherhead & Charles who has signed the preceding certificate, resident in the town of Cumberland as the assigned the same is a resident in the and a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of Oliver Harris for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
10th day of August 1832
Benja Cowell Clerk
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District of Rhode Islands
County of Providence

On this nineteenth day of February AD 1853
personally appeared before me John Pitman, Judge of the District Court of the United States for the District aforesaid Mary Ann Harris a resident of Cumberland in the County & District aforesaid aged seventy one years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of
the Act of Congress of February 3, 1853, That she is the widow of Oliver Harris who was a private in one of the Regiments furnished by Rhode Island for the continental Army in the War of the Revolution who was on the Revolutionary Pension Roll of the U.S.
payable at the R.I. Agency, his residence
being in Cumberland, she further declares that
she was married to the said Oliver Harris
on the twenty first day of May in the year Eighteen hundred & twenty nine, that her husband the aforesaid Oliver Harris died on the twentieth day of December 1841, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage both place at the time above stated she further swears that she is now a widow & that she has never before made any application for a pension 

Mary Ann Harris

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above written before me, And I further certify that in my opinion the declarant is unable from bodily infirmity to attend in Court
John Pitman
District Judge
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State of Rhode Island
City & County of Providence

Know all men by these presents. That I Mary Ann Harris of Cumberland in said county do hereby make constitute & appoint John
Pitman Esq the City aforesaid my the &
lawful Attorney for me & in my name to procure & receive the Pension certificate to which I am entitled under the Act of congress approved Feb 3, 1853.

Witness my hand seal this 28th day of February AD 1853
Attest
Mary Ann Harris
Charles W Greene
Marcellus Ide

State of Rhode Island
Providence J. Providence

On this twenty eighth day of February AD
1853 personally appeared before me, the
above named Mary Ann Harris acknowledged the foregoing power to be her free act & Dec
Charles W Greene
Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island

Providence  Cumberland March 2d 1853
On this second day of March AD 1853 personally came the before named Pardon Sayles and Olney Mason and made oath to the truth of the aforegoing affidavit & subscribed the same before me, And further certify that said Pardon Sayles and Olney Mason are well known to me
and that they are persons in whose statements perfect confidence may & should be
placed -
Lewis B Arnold
Justice of the Peace
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I Pardon Sayles of the town of Cumberland in the county of Providence & state of Rhode Island, being duly sworn on oath, depose I say, that I am well acquainted with Mary Ann Harris of Cumberland, that I have known her for the last twenty years past. That she is the widow of Oliver Harris, late of said Cumberland who was as I believe a Revolutionary Pensioner, that said Oliver Harris died on about the twentieth of December AD eighteen hundred and forty one (1841). That said Mary Ann was the wife of said Oliver, that they lived together and were reputed as such and trusted each other as such during the life time of said Oliver Harris. That said Mary Ann Harris is still a widow and that this affiant has no interest in the court of her claim for a pension. 
Jordan Sayles
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I Olney Mason of the town of Cumberland in the county of Providence and state of Rhode Island being duly sworn on oath depose and say that I am well acquainted with Mary Ann Harris of Cumberland. That I have known her for the last twenty years past. That she is the widow of Oliver Harris late of said Cumberland who was as I believe a Revolutionary pensioner, That said Oliver Harris died on or about the twentieth of December AD eighteen hundred and forty one (1841). That said Mary Ann was the wife of said Oliver Harris that they lived together treated each other and were reputed as such. That said Mary Ann Harris is still a widow and that this affiant has no intent in the event of her claim for a pension. 
Olney Mason
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State of Rhode Island
Providence

Cumberland March 27, 1853

I Lewis B. Arnold town clerk of the town of Cumberland in the county of Providence aforesaid on oath declare that I have the custody of the records of marriages in the said town, that I have this 2d second day of March AD 1833 examined said records & find therein the following This may certify that Mr. Oliver Harris of Cumberland and Mrs. Mary Ann Gray resident in said Cumberland have been duly joined in marriage this day by me. 
Stephen Cutler minister

May the twenty first
Eighteen hundred twenty nine

Recorded Nov. twenty nineth eighteen hundred & fifty one
by L. B. Arnold town clerk

That the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair & legal figures as follows Cumberland May 21st 1829. Recorded Nov. 29. 1854
L.B. Arnold town clerk

And I certify that the above is a true estract from the record of said town with the exception above named as certified by me. 
Lewis B. Arnold town clerk of the town of Cumberland

Providence
Cumberland on this second day of March AD 1853 personally came the above named Lewis B. Arnold town clerk aforesaid & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit. 
Before me
Pardon Sayles Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island
Providence

I Thomas S. Anthony clerk of the supreme court for the county of Providence and state aforesaid here by certify that Charles W. Greene, Pardon Sayles & Lewis B. Arnold esquires were at the dates of the foregoing acknowledgments & certificates justices of the peace in & for the city of Providence & the town of Cumberland respectively as they report to me, that they are authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deed & to administer oaths. That they are duly commissioned & sworn & that their respective signatures to the records & within papers are genuine. 
In with whereas I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my official seal at Providence this fifth day of March AD 1853.
Thomas S. Anthony clerk
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No 434
Mary Ann Harris
Widow of Oliver R.I.
Act 3 Feb 1833

$80 per annum
Cong 3 Feb 1833

J.T. Pitman
Providence R.I.
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Providence March 5, 1853

Sir, 
I forward herein to the claim of Mary Ann Harris for pension made the act of congress passed Feb. 3, 1853 & regret that the certificate which issued may be forwarded to 
your obedient servant
John L. Pitman
by Jos. S. Pitman

The Hon. James E. Heath
Comm of Pensions
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State of Rhode Island
City & County of Providence

On this twelfth day of March AD 1855 personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in & for the city of aforesaid. Mary Ann Harris aged seventy four years a resident of Cumberland in the state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Oliver Harris who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Who was a pensioner of the United States as a soldier in said war payable at the R.I. Agency and the proof of his service will be found in the files of the pension office to which she refers he support hereof. 
She further states that she was married to Oliver Harris in said Cumberland on the 21st day of May 1829 by one Stephen Cutler minister that her name before marriage was Mary Ann Gray, that her husband died December 20th 1841 at Cumberland and that she is still a widow. That he is a pensioner of the United States  [illegible due to ink stain] the roll of the R.I. Agency as the [illegible] of said Oliver under the act of February 3, 1853. She refers to the evidence presented in support of her claim to said pension for the necessary evidence
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his support of this claim. 
She makes this declaration in the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled made under the act passed March 3d 1855 and authorizes Joseph S. Pitman Providence & act in her behalf in this claim as her attorney. 
Mary A Harris

Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written and I certify that I believe the said Mary Ann Harris to be of the age above stated and that she is the identical person she claim to be. And further that I am not interested in the result of her claim nor covered in the prosecution thereof. 
Jerome B. Kimball
Justice of the Peace
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The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence Sc.

Clerks office, Supreme Court
Providence March 12th AD 1855

I Thomas S. Anthony Clerk of the Supreme Court of said state within and for the county of Providence: 
Do hereby certify that Jerome B. Kimball before whom the annexed declaration was made to who has subscribed his name to the certificate thereof, was at the time of so doing a justice of the peace within for said county duly appointed and qualified and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgement of deeds and other instruments and that the signature to the annexed certificate purporting to be his is genuine.
In attestation whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said court the day and year above written. 
Thomas S. Anthony clerk
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Providence March 12 1855
Hon. Loren P. Wald
Commissioner of Pensions 

Sir, I have the honor to transmit herein the claim of Mary Ann Harris to bounty land under the Act of March 3/55 which request May be examined. 
Will you inform me if the result and if possible acknowledge receipt of this. 
I am sir very respectfully your obedient servant
Joseph LS. Pitman

Washington D.C.
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3400 
Oliver Harris
R.I.

2 years private
W clrk

Admn
JLE

Wm. jones
Christopher Lippet
$80

Benj. Cowell
Prov. R.I.
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3406

Brief in the case of Oliver Harris Cumberland, Prov. Cy in the state of R. Island
(Act 7 June 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a court or a judge? a court

2. If before a judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? --

3. how old is he? 73

4. State his service as directed in the form annexed. 

Period
In 1776
In Jany - til end of term
sworn til he came home he served
Oct '77
June '78 till end of term
In 1782 enlisted for another 12 months & served till his tiem expired.

Duration of Service
Years, Month, Days, 
1 & 1
-- 1 --
-- 1 --
-- 9 --
-- 12 --

Rank
As a 
Private
"
"
"
"

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
Gen. 
Col. Lippetts - Cpat Brownell
Maj. Richmond
Col. Chad Brown - Capt. Whipple
Col. Creary - Capt. Carr
Col. Peck, Capt. Mowry

5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains, Princteon, Trenton

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? (incidentally, states at Providence)

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by tradtionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
2 living witness who testify to all but that 2d period and service, toured of one month

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so in what respect? 
No clergyman's certificate

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
W.C. Easton
Examining clerk
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RECORD DIVISION. 3-525. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS. Washington D. C., ....., 19...
In reply to  your request of ..., received... for a statement of the military history of Oliver Harris a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his and his widow's applications for pension on file in this Bureau. W. 9473
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.; LENGTH OF SERVICE.; RANK.; OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.; CAPTAIN.; COLONEL.; STATE.
Jan 1776; 13 mos.; Pr.; Jonathan Brownell; Christopher Lippitt; R.I.
Soon after; 1"; "; Wilmot; Major Richmond; ".
Oct. 1777.; 1"; "; Amos Whipple; Col. Chad Brown; ".
June 1778; 9"; "; Caleb Carr; Crary; ".
1782 1"; "; D. Mowry, Peck; ".
The above is the only Oliver Harris of R.I. found on the Revolutionary war records.
Battles engaged in, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton; Spencer's Expedition to R.I.
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension, July 12, 1832. His Cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, 73 yrs.
Remarks: Soldier mar. May 21, 1829 at Cumberland, R.I. Mra. Mary Ann Gray; he died Dec. 20, 1841, at Cumberland R.I.; she was allowed pension on an application executed Feb 19, 1853, while 71 yrs. old and a resident of Cumberland, R.I. Very respectfully, Commissioner. 6-2856
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No. 1234 ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855. Received March 14th, 1855 Mary Ann Harris, wid of Oliver Harris, Rev. War Pri Rev. War. Warrant 2084-160-55 Joseph S. Pitman Providence R.I. 
June 14, 1912. History to Mrs. Freeman C. Rogers, Pueblo Colo. F.W.
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Pueblo Colo., June 7, 1912 Department of Pensions Washington, D.C.: Please send me a copy of Record of Oliver Harris, a Revolutionary Soldier of Cumbereland, R.I. He married (Lydia Jencks?) Aug. 18, 1782, and is on the R.I. records as a pension, at the
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ate of 81 years of the town of Cumberland, R.I. His name also appears in Cowells "Spirit of '76", page 42. He had a daughter Roxalana Harris Born Apr. 30 1798 (Arnold's Book of B.D's & M's.) Your Respectfully Olive H. W. Rogers State Regoent of Colo. N.S.D.A.R. Mrs. Freeman C. Rogers 1112 E Ninth St. Pueblo Colo.
U.S. PENSION OFFICE D JUN 10 1912
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2087 [illegible] Ad: Oct/53 R.I. Boynton
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PROVIDENC R.I. 3 FREE Official business
The Hon Loren P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C. Mr. Cole Additional Testimony Boynton July 2/33
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No 1234 Act March 3 1855 Mary Ann Harris widow of Oliver Revolutionary War Testimony of two witnesses & identity of claimant
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Claim under act of March 3, 1855 no 1234 
Providence Mar 3, 1855. Hon L. P. Waldo Sir, Your favor of the 24th ult. announding the suspension of the claim to Bounty Land under Act of March 3 1855 of Mary Ann Harris widow of Oliver was duly received. I forward herewith the affidavit of two credible witnesses that she is the widow of the identical soldier [illegible] she claimes I am sir very respectfully your obedient servant Joseph L. Pitman
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Brief in the case of Mary Ann Harris, widow of Oliver Providence County and State of R.I. act 3d Feb 1833.
Claim, ("original,") 
Proof exhibited, (if original,)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance. Husband was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832, at $80 per annum. Proof of marriage Certified copy of Town Records

(If for increase.) Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? if so, what?

Name and residence of Agent J. T. Pitman Providence R.I.   S. Cole Examining Clerk.
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Providence May 20, 1853 Sir The certificate of Pension to Mary Ann Harris, widow of Oliver Harris private in the Revolutionary War giver her but $80 per annum. By reference to the papers on file in her case & in that of her late husband, it will be found that the pension to him was $96 per annum. I presume the law intends that widows shall receive what their husbands would be entitled to under existing laws of being. I return the certificate that it may be corrected if an error has been made. 

Why is it that the pension has been restricted to the period since the passage of the acts instead of being granted as pensions have heretofore been tranted to widows of Revolutionary soldiers. There is nothing in the law specially fixing the 3d February 1853 as the time when these pensions should sommence, & the words "in the same manner" seem to me to apply
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not only to the amount of the pension be paid but to the time when it should begin & for which it should continue. The law of June 29, 1848 has this language "shall be entitled to a pension during such widowhood of equal amount per annum that their husband's would have been entitled to &c. To commence on the 4th day of March 1848 & to be paid in the same manner, that their pensions are paid to widows, re" Is not the amount per annum determined by this & similar law, why there do not the other provisions of former law, cannot the consturction of the Act of 1853 in other periods. The words "shall be entitled" have never been so limited to exclude claimants from drawing pensions for the time before their enactment of former pension laws, at least as far as I have been able to
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prevent them from receiving sufficient of the bounty of the government to put them in some degree of comfort that they may be able to live respectably on the pension annually paid them. These women who married since 1800 deserve something liberal from the government for the care they bestowed on the old soldiers who had become decrepit in many instances & were more in want of nurses than wives. I find it difficult to make them understand why a difference is made between them & the widows who have heretofore received pensions. If therefore the Secretary of the Interior has given a written decision on this point & it has been printed, I request that I may be favored with a copy.
I am sir very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Joseph L. Pitman
Hon. Loren P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.
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Providence May 20, 1853
Sir,
The certificate of Pension to Mary Ann Harris, widow of Oliver Harris, private in the Revolutionary War gives her but $80 per annum.  By reference to the papers on file in her case & in that of her late husband, it will be found that the pension to him was $96 per annum.  I presume the law intended that widows shall receive what their husbands would be entitled to under existing laws if living.  I return the certificate that it may be corrected if an error has been made.
Why is it that the pension has been restricted to the period since the passage of the act instead of being granted as pensions have heretofore been granted to widows of Revolutionary soldiers.  There is nothing in the law specially fixing the [illegible] February 1853 as the time when these pensions should commence, & the words "in the same manner" seem to me to apply
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not only to the amount of the pension to be paid but the time when it should begin & for which it should continue.  The law of June 29, 1848 has this language "shall be entitled to a pension during such widowhood of equal amount per annum that their husband would have been entitled to &c.  To commence on the 4th day of March 1848 & to be paid in the same manner, that other pensions are paid to widows, &c".  Is not the amount per annum determined by this + similar laws, why then do not the other provisions of former laws control the construction of the Act of 1853, in other points.
The words "shall be entitled" have never been so limited as to exclude claimants, from drawing pensions for the time before their enactment of former pensions laws, at least so far as I have been able to discover from my investigation of the matter.
It seems hard that when nearly all the Revolutionary soldiers are dead & but few of their widows are living & most of those in great poverty that the act should be so construed as to
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prevent them from receiving sufficient of the bounty of the government to put them in some degree of comfort that they may be able to live respectably on the pension annually paid them.  These women who married since 1800 deserve something liberal from the government for the care they bestowed on the old soldiers who had become decrepit in many instances & were more in want of nurses than wives.  I find it difficult to make them understand why a difference is made between them & the widows who have heretofore received pensions.  If therefore the Secretary of the Interior has given a written decision on this point & it has been printed, I request that I may be favored with a copy.
I am sir very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Joseph L. Pitman
Hon. Loren P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.
Page 40

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 9473
Mary Ann Harris
Wid
Oliver Harris
Prvt Rev War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:-Vol. A Page 307
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 41

State of Rhode Island
County of Providence SS.
On this Second day of May 
A. D. 1855, personally appeared
before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said [blank]
of [blank]
in said County  Mary Ann Harris aged seventy four years, a resident of
Cumberland in said county who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the
widow of Oliver Harris   deceased, who was a soldier
in the company commanded by Captain [blank]
in the [blank]
commanded by [blank]
in the War of the Revolution
declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812, -- that her said husband was 
drafted at [blank]
on or about the [blank] day of[blank] A. D. 18[blank]  for the term of [blank]
and continued in actual service in the said war for the term of six months and more
on or about the[blank]   and was honorably discharged at [blank]
on or about the [blank] day of [blank] A.D.18, as will
appear by reference to the rolls; that he received no printed or written discharge that
she received and that he neither nor she ever applied for, or is entitled to bounty land for any other service [redacted] That she is a [illegible]of the United States on the roll of the [illegible] Agency as his widow said Oliver Harris that her pension certificate bears date and was issued under Act of February 3, 1853. 

She further states that she was married to the said Oliver Harris
in Cumberland on the 21st day of May
12th 182[illegible] by Stephan Cuttel a universalist clergyman and that her name before
her marriage was Mary Ann Gray     that her husband died at Cumberland on the 20th 
day of December 1841
proof of which will be found on file with her previous application, that she is now a widow, -- That she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the act of
March 3d, 1855, and that she prays that the certificate thereof may be sent for her to JOSEPH S. PITMAN,
Providence, R. I.
Mary Ann Harris

We Ariel Cook
and George Cook of Cumberland, having been duly sworn, depose and say, that we well knew Oliver Harris
was a solder of the Revolution we believe who was a  Pensioner, [illegible] as such soldier
whose widow now applies for bounty land, -- that we knew him for more than thirty
years before his death, which occurred at Cumberland about thirteen years ago -- that we knew that he died about that time because*
we resided in the neighborhood at the time & were intimate in the family.
that we are residents of Cumberland that we have known his said widow from his
death to this time, that she has remained unmarried.
that her declaration was
signed and acknowledged in our presence, and that we know her to be the identical person she represents herself
to be, and that we have no pecuniary interest in her claim.
Ariel Cook
George Cook

The foregoing declaration and affidavits were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons, -- that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, that I have no interest in this claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution.

Fenner Brown Justice of the Peace
It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me, the undersigned, a Justice of
the Peace, by the affidavits of Ariel Cook and George Cook
of the said county and state, who are personally known to me, who are entitled to credit, and who swear they have no pecuniary interest in the result of the above application; that Mary Ann Harris
is the widow, remaining unmarried of the late Oliver Harris who was a Pensoner as a soldier of the Revolution
and that the said Oliver Harris died at Cumberland on or about the 20th day of December A.D. 1841

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this second day 
of May 1855 I have no interest in this case, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Fenner Brown Justice of the Peace
*"We attended his funeral,” or “were in the neighborhood at the time," or some equally good reason.
Page 42

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
[embossed with a seal on the left side of the page]
CLERK'S OFFICE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
PROVINCE, May 3 A. D. 1855
Amosa S. [illegible]
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within
and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Fenner Brown was in 2 day of
May A.D. 1855 a Justice of the Peace for said County
of Providence:
duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment
of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his is genuine.
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal
of said Court, the day and year above written.
Amosa S. [illegible] Clerk.