Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,373, Thomas Hughes, Continental R.I.
Page 1

Continental
R.I
Hughes, Thomas
Welthian
Nr 23,373
B.L.Mt903.300.Capt
Issued Dec.31,1789
No papers
Page 2

Rhode Island 51
Welthian Hughes
of Providence in the State of  R. I.
who was a          in the             command
by Captain          of the            command
by                        in the

Widow  of Thomas  Hughes
dec'd who was a Captain in the Revolution 2 yrs

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 480 Dollars 000 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of pension issued the 24  day of Sept 1836 and sent     Benjamin 
Cowell     Providence R. I.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836   $2640.00
(illegible) allowance ending 
4 March  37                                         240.00
                                                         $2880.00

Revolutionary Claim  )
Amt July 4, 1836)      )

Recorded by   D.D. Addison     Clerk

Book              Vol             Page 105
Page 3

2.729
Rhode Island Roll
Thomas Hughes
Captain
Rhode Island Line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 30th of March 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st of Sept 1818 and sent to David Howell [illegible] Judge
Providence R.I.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 5 1/31 & 4/30 
 103.10
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4 March 1819   120 -
[total] $223.10
{ Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
6 years
sent to Benj Cowell
Continued
Providence

Notification sent [illegible] 1820 to Benj Cowell, Providence RI
Land Warrant No.403 for [illegible, very faint]
goes to Captain Thomas Hughes of the R. Island Roll
Page 4

John L Hughes Esq. 
Providence
Page 5

This is to certify whom it may concern the Capt Thomas Hughes son of Capt Joseph Hughes dec'd of the town and County of Newport in the State of Rhode Island Providence Plantation and Miss Welthan Greene Daughter of Col Christopher Greene de'd of Warwick in the County of Kent and State above said was Lawfully joined together in the Honourable State of Marriage in said Warwick on the 27th day of February AD 1782
By me John Gorton, Elder

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
Town Clerk's office
Warwick Sept 2 1836
I George A Brayton Town Clerk of the said Town of Warwick under my oath of office do certify that the aforewritten certificate of Marriage is a true copy duly compared by me as appears of record as this office
Geo A Brayton Town Clerk [signature]

State of Rhode Island 
Kent County 
Warwick
September 2nd 1836
Personally appeared before me the above named Geo A. Brayton known to me as Town Clerk of the Town of Warwick  and made Solemn Oath that the certificate by him Signed is Correct-
Wm Harrison Justice of the Peace [signature]
Page 6

I John L Hughes of the City of Providence in the State of Rhode Island being now forty years of age in oath do testify & say that Thomas Hughes the within named was my father & that he died on the tenth day of December AD 1821  I was with him when he died - And I further testify that the within named Welthian Hughes, my mother, is his widow & has never been married since his death & now resides in Scituate
John L. Hughes [signature]
Providence 
In Providence Aug 3 1836 Sworn to & subscribed before me & I further testify that said John is well known to me & he is a credible witness.
Benja Cowell
C.J.C.C. [illegible]
Page 7

This is to certify whom it may concern that Capt. Thomas Hughes son of Capt Joseph Hughes dec'd of the Town and County of Newport in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations And Miss Welthan Greene daughter of Col Christopher Greene de'd, of Warwick is the County of Kent and State abovesaid was lawfully joined together in the honourable State of Marriage in said Warwick on the 27th day of February AD 1782
By me John Gorton  Elder [signature] 

State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
Town Clerks office
Warwick July 29 1836
I hereby certfy that the aforewritten is a true copy duly compared as appears of record as this office
Witness Geo A Brayton
Town Clerk
Page 8

Welthian Hughes
Page 9

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence   I Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Benjaman Cowell Esq before the aforegoing & annexed affidavits some sworn, is Chief Justice of said Court that by Law he is duly authorized and qualified to administer oaths and take depositions and the signatures affixed to the Certificates of his are the proper hand writing of the said Benjamin Cowell-
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Providence this tenth day of August AD 1836.
Dexter Randall [signature]
[A multipointed star seal with ribbon beneath it is affixed to the paper on the bottom left]
Page 10

To the Honorable David Howell Esq. District Judge of the United States for the District of Rhode Island.
The memorial of the subscriber respectfully represents;
That he was born in Newport in the State of Rhode Island on the 30th day of May in the year of our Lord 1752.
That he entered the army on the 12th of May
1775 as an Ensign in Church's regiment, in which he served till the 1st of January 1776, when he was promoted to the station of Lieutenant in Hitchcock's regiment; was appointed a captain in June 1777- and continued to serve, in that office in the same regiment, successively under Colonels Angell, Greene and Olney, until the termination of the war he was regularly discharged at the disbanding of the army in 1783.
He would further represent that he was
severely wounded on Long Island on the 27th of Aug 1776. by a musket ball through the hips which disabled him from service until November 1777 when he again joined his regiment. From the effects of that wound he has never entirely recovered. He is now advanced in years and from debitity &
infirmities is incapable of labour, and is destitute of property. He therefore offers himself as a claimant on the generosity of his country for a pension agreeably to the act of Congress passed the 18th day of March
instant. My Commissions were all burnt-  [illegable] my house in the summer of 1815
Providence March 30, 1818.
Thomas Hughes [signature]

Rhode Island District March 30, 1818. Sworn
to before David Howell District Judge
Captain Hughes Served in the R. I. line
and by reason of his reduced circumstances
he needs the assistance of his Country.
and lives in this district. D.H. [initialed]
Page 11


Rhode Island District
Providence 30 March 1818,
I hereby certify that the signature of the
Judge and the seal of the District Court for said
District are hereto affixed.
witness Benjamin [Illegible]
Clk of RI District.
____________________________________________
David Howell, Esq., Judge,
Providence, Rhode Isld.
Thomas Hughes, Capt
Rhode Island Line
Revolutionary Claim
Col. Hitchcock's regiment
is not to be found on the 
rolls of Rhode Island
nor in the [illegible] office.
The name of this applicant
appears on the roll of Col.
Angell's log in
required for the claimant
to prove that he is the
same person [illegible] satisfactory testimony

[Illegible--four lines marked out.  Items below
line above are overlain crosswise on other items
with "Correct" superimposed on them]
___________________________________________

Rhode Island District 28 July 1818
Captain Thomas Hughes, the above applicant,
who made oath before me and to whom the
certificate of Major Dexter refers, is well
known to me, and were known to me
during the revolutionary war, and ever
since has been.
If Major Dexters character was as
well known to the Secretary of War as it 
is here, more credit would have been
given to his certificate; especially touching
a captain in his same regiment to 
which he was attached.

Hon. Wm Calhoun, Secry of War,
David Howell, District Judge.
Page 12

Thos. Hughes
2729
March 1819
Con [written large and lightly ]
Page 13

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
RHODE ISLAND DISTRICT
County of West Sperial, Court of Connected Places, July 7th A.D. 1820
On this 7th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a
Court of Record, within and for [illegible] Thomas Hughes, 
aged 68 years, residing in the town of Manotik in said County who being
first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follow:
that he served as an Officer from the beginning to the end of the war in the Rhode Island line.
that he made a previous declaration on the 30th day of March 1818, and that
he has received a certificate for a pension, being 2,429.  And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident
citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and 
that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part
thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to ring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States, in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: that I have not, or 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.
[signed] Thomas Hughes
A SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of Thomas Hughes -- since Thomas declares that he has no property of any description -- and this declarant further saith he is deeply involved in debt.  That he owes at this time more than one hundred twenty dollars -- that he relies entirely on his pension,
Page 14

Welthean Hughes
No 409

service 2 years Capt
proved
Town Clerks Certificate - 
not authenticated

Pay Marker of Captain
from 1778 to the conclusion
of the war - 
adm

2 years Capt.
480$
No deduction
B Cowell
Providence RId
Page 15

State of Rhode Island &
Providence Pl

On this 3d day of August AD 1836 personally appeared before me Benjamin Cowell 
 chief Justice of the Court of
Common Pleas within afor said County,
Welthan Hughes resident in Scituate
in said County aged 78 years who
being first 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 of July 4 1836: That
she is the widow of Thomas Hughes
who was a Captain in the war  of
the Revolution in the Continental
Army of the Rhode Island line on the 
Continental establishment 
[illegible] a pension for his services under the act
of June 18th 1818. He served through
the whole war from beginning to end
Page 16

She further declares that she was married
to the said Thomas on the 27th day
February AD 1782 that her husband the
aforesaid Thomas died on the 10th day
of December AD 1821 & that she has 
remained a widow ever since that
period as will more fully appear by
reference to the proof hereto annexed
wherefore the request that the pension
which might have been allowed
to her said husband under the
act of June 7th 1832, if living to have claimed it, may be granted  to her - 

Welthian Hughes

Providence Sc
[illegible] Scituate August 3d 1866
Sworn to & subscribed before me
& I further certify that from old
age & infirmity said Welthian is
unable to appear in Court -

Benja Cowell
CJCC M [illegible]
Page 17

51 Increase
Rhode Island
Welthian Hughes dec
widow of Thomas Hughes
who died on the 10 December 1821
of Providence in the State of R. I.
who was a Capt in the - commanded
by Captain      of the      commanded
by R.I. in the Revolution
for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Providence
at the rate of 600 Dollars 00 Cents
per annum, to commence on the 4 day of 
March 1831 & end 8 August 1844
when she died.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of
June 1850 and sent to 
Hon. John H. Clarke. S.U.S.

Increased from $480.00
Semi-annual allowance ending
Payable to John L. Hughes
only surviving child

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the}

Recorded by J P Chase Clerk,
Book D  Vol.2  Page 350

Reported

Correct  
[illegible]
Page 18

To what line was Thomas Hughes Capt 20$ pr
month paid of the RId agency act 1818?

G.W.C
Sept 21. '36

He died the 18th Oct 1821 [illegible]
to there [illegible]

D.H.
Page 19

It appears by the Regimental Book, That Thomas Hughes, Esquire was, on the twenty third day of June 1777- promoted to the rank of Captain,
that he was appointed, commissioned and served in that character from
thence, in the Regiment [illegible] commanded by Colonels Israel Angell, Christopher Greene and Jeremiah Olney,  in the Rhode Island Line on the Continental Establishment, until the fifteenth day of June 1783, when he
received a Furlough, granted in pursuance of General orders, which by
a condition in it, on the arrival of the definitive Treaty of Peace, became an absolute discharge from said Regiment

Jno S. Dexter of Major of said
Regt at the close of the Revoly War -

Providence May 2nd 1818.

I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Thomas Hughes and know the fact of his having served in
the year 1776 in the Rhode Island Regiment commanded by Colonel Hitchcock, in the capacity of Lieutenant - I have known
the said Thomas Hughes more than forty two years last past, and
Page 20

and from my knowledge of his circumstances I believe him now to be poor -

Jno S Dexter
August 20th 1818
Page 21

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Municipal Court of the City of Providence, in said State, exercising Probate Jurisdiction
June 11th 1850.

Be it remembered, that satisfactory testimony
has been, this day, produced before this Court, to prove that Welthean Hughes, widow of Thomas Hughes, late a pensioner of the United States, under the Act of Congress of July 4th AD. 1836, died on the eighth day of August A.D. One thousand eight hundred and forty four;
and not on the Eighteenth day of said month as was erroneously entered upon the record of this Court on the twenty third day of April last: - and
that John L. Hughes of said Providence, is her son and only surviving child, and that he is over
twenty one years of age.

In attestation whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and have affixed the seal of said
Court, this 11th day of June AD. 1850

Albert G. Green

Clerk
Page 22

J.L. Edwards Esq
Com. Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 23

Providence Oct 22. 1849

J. L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions

Dear Sir,

I have authorized W. D. D. Addison, of Washington City D.C. to endeavor 
to procure an increase of Pension due my late
Mother - Welthian Hughes. Be pleased to let
him have access to her papers on file in
your office in support of her claim under the
act of 1836.

When the claim is increased, I wsth the amount due, payable to myself by the United States agent Providence Rhode Island.

very Respectfully
J.L. Hughes

Let Mr. Addison due the papers
GFG
Page 24

By His Excellency,
John Brown Francis

Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

BE IT KNOWN. that the name "HENRY BOWEN" to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation, full faith and credit are to be rendered.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence, this second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand right hundred and thirty six and of Independence  the sixty-first.

John Brown Francis

By His Excellency's Command
Henry Bowen Secry.
Page 25

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office Sept 20 AD 1836

I Certify that at the session of the General
assembly of said State holden on the first
Wednesday of May last William Harrison was
elected a Justice of the Peace for the town of
Warwick in the County of Kent for the term of
one year, and has been commissioned accordingly as appears of record in this office.
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
Page 26

Hon J.L. Edwards
Washington
Page 27

Providence June 13, 1850

Hon J.L. Edwards

Dear Sir,

Your letter of 29th [illegible] to Hon J. H. Clarke in reference to the issuing 
of a certificate for the manager of Pension [illegible] to my late Mother Welthian Hughes is before me. I have forwarded to Washington today a Document connecting ltr enc
made in the the one you now have in the pension office under date of the 23th day of April last Be pleased to have the certificate of the amount due. drawn payable to my own order: it may be delivered to D. D. Addison Esq who will forward it to me

Your obt servt
J.L. Hughes
Page 28

I...L.. to Benj Cowell 27. 1826 C
Page 29


Rev
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 23373
Welthian Hughes
Wid of
Thomas Hughes
Capt Rev war
Act: July 4th 1836
Index: -- Vol. A Page 360
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 30

Wilthian Hughes now of Shimas. R.I.

Act 4 July 1836 $480 p an

To what time was she last paid?
[illegible]

Pension Office May 25 1850}

Alis, To his death - 
Aug 8 1744
Page 31

Senate Chamber
Saturday June 15

Mr. J. H. Clarke has the honor to 
hand to W. Edward the accompanying
paper in relation to the claim of the
heir of Welthian Hughes - and to ask
his early attention to the Same -
Page 32

Washington May 24, 1850

My Dear Sir,

John L Hughes Esq of Rhode Island, a
gentleman personally known to me, is the only 
son & heir of Welthan Hughes, a
Pensioner under the act of July 1836.
W. Hughes devise me to ask that the claim made for an increase of pension and the papers in support of that claim may receive your early attention.  Whatever he may realize would, 
[illegible] portion, be peculiarly [illegible] - and
therefore I respectfully ask that the paper may be 
Considered at your earliest convenience -

D. D. Anderson Esq of the City W Hughes inform me for the change of his [illegible]

I renew the assurance of my best regards & am
[illegible] Oct 5t
John H. Clarke

Hon J.L. Edwards Comr & c
Page 33

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

[illegible] of Pensions
Page 34

Washington May 7th 1850

Sir,

I enclose herewith a certificate of Court, shewing the date of Mrs. Welthia Hughes death and the name of her only surviving child.

Mrs Hughes was allowed a pension of $480 p. an. under the act of July 4th 1836, for the services of her husband, Thomas Hughes, as Captain in the Rhode Island line; but he having also served
in the capacity of Pay Master for 4 or 5 years
an increase of pension to $600 pr an is now
claimed, and I beg that a certificate may
issue accordingly at an early day

Should the rolls of the Rhode Island line in your office, not furnish the evidence necessary, you will please inform me, and I will endeaver to supply it -

I am Very respectfully
[illegible]
D.D.  Addison

J.L. Edwards, Esq
[illegible] of Pensions }
Page 35

Providence Sept 2d 1836

Sir

I herewith enclose the evidence of the Marriage of Thomas Hughes to Welthan his present widow duly Verified by the town Clerk agreeably to our
directions of 27 letter

I am respectfully yours
Benja Cowell
Page 36

Providence Aug 10 1836

Sir

I herewith enclose the application
of Mrs Welthian Hughes for a pension
under a section of the act of Congress
of July 4th 1836 -

I am very respectfully yours

Benja Cowell
Page 37

Increase
Welthan Hughes [illegible]
of [illegible]
RI
act 4 July 1836
Adm $600.00 per [illegible] Pay Master, [illegible
4 March 1831 to 8 August 1844
the day of the [illegible] payable
to John L. Hughes only son
living child deducting what
has been hand at the rate of 480
In the same time

[illegible]
& Pay [illegible]
1778 to the [illegible]

Hon John H Clarke
Senate U States
Page 38

State of Rhode Island & Provdence Plantations.
Providence Ss

I Thomas Burgess, sole Judge of the
Municipal Court of the City of Providence,
in the County of Providence in said State
being a Court of Record, do hereby certify
that it has been made to appear to my
satisfaction that was Welthiean Hughes
widow of Thomas Hughes late a pensioner
of the United States, under the Act of
Congress of July 4 A.D. 1836, did on
the eighteenth day of August AD, one
thousand, eight hundred and forty four,
and that John L. Hughes, now living in
said City of Providence, is her son and
only surviving child

Thomas Burgess
Sole Judge of said Court,

I Albert G. Greene Clerk of the Municipal
Court of the City of Providence, in the County
of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations, hereby certify
that Thomas Burgess, who has signed the
aforegoing Certificate, is the sole Judge of
said Court, and that the signature to said
Certificate is in his proper hand writing

In attestation whereof I have hereunto set my hand
Page 39

and have affixed the seal of said Court,
this twenty third day of April, A.D. one
thousand eight hundred and
fifty.
Albert G. Greene
Clerk
-
Page 40

SERVICE                                                                         NUMBER                                                                                

Continental               Hughes, Thomas                           W. 23,373

R. J.                                       Melthian                           B. L. M 903. 300. Capt.
                                                                                       Issued Dec. 31, 1789.