Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21440, for William Reynolds, Rhode Island
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Application of William Reynolds

Please make known the wants to Sylvester G. Shearman
Wickford, Rhode Island

18838
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I John Spink of North Kingston, in the County of Washington, am Seventy Nine years of age during the Revolutionary War, I knew William
Reynolds of North Kingston now as Applicant for a Pension.  I belonged to the same Company of Militia, to which he belonged, and been with him as a Private many times when parts of the Company was drafted or detained for the purpose of guarding the shore, whilst the enemy held possession of the Island of Rhode Island. Thomas Clarke was Captain of the Company and after him Peter Wright , no more stationed may times at"[illegible]" and I am confident that Friend with him at "[illegible]" at different times, more than six months and were stationed there two months in "[illegible]" and after that a month at a time. I saw him on "[illegible]" down in Boston Neck as a private and then with him one month when we were stationed at the house of Colonel John Gardiner in South Kingston. He was called out on service several times when I was not called out the same time and from what I know myself and from what I learned at the time, I have no doubt that he seemed absent at two years."[illegible]" he was, as a private, 
"[illegible]" standing guard on the shores. Houses were very frequent whilst the "[illegible]" were at Newport and "[illegible]" him out on duty, vis may alarms, he was on duty under an Ensign Zeprell(?) was on shore on "[illegible]" Neck and was taken.
signed John Spink

Washington c- In North Kingston
November 10th 1832

Post Script
Personally appeared before me, the above [illegible] John Spink, and after carefully examined and duly record, gave the aforegoing Deposition, which was by me reduced to writing in his presence and by him inscribe in my presence, and I
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Declaration

In order to obtain the Benefit of the Acts of Congress, [illegible] June 7, 1832
State of Rhode Island
County of Washington fc.
On this 12th day of November 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Probate of the Town of North Kingston in the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, William Reynolds a resident in said North Kingston, aged Seventy Nine 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 Acts of Congress [illegible] June 7th 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. He was born in said North Kingston, where he has always resided, he has no [illegible] of his age. At the commencement of the America Revolution, their were several British [illegible] on the shores of the Bay, and committing [illegible], they located at one time on Providence Island and [illegible] some [illegible]horses of the Company of Militia, to a beach [illegible]collectod and marched to the shore, for the purpose of making a landing of the Island, and expelling the Enemy therefrom, but the Enemy soon abandoning the same, the Company was dismissed. In the Fall of 1776, the Enemy took possession of the Island of Rhode Island & port of Newport, and after that a continual guard was left along the shores of the Foray(sp?) until their departure.
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And the said Court of Probate, for said Town of North Kingston, do hereby declare their finis, after the Investigation of the matter, and after furthering the interrogations [illegible] by the War Department, that the said William Reynolds, whose Application is hereto annexed, was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the said Court [illegible] certifies, that it applicants to them, that Daniel E. Updike and Richard Thomas, who have signed, the preceding Certificate,  are residents in North Kingston, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to Credit.

I, Jonathan Reynolds, Clerk of the Court of Probate of the Town of North Kingston in the County of Washington, State of Rhode Island fc. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the Application of William Reynolds for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto put my hand & Seal of Office, this 12th day of November.
Signed: Jon. Reynolds PClk
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Washington fc - In North Kingston Town
July 20th 1833

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned Sylvester G. Shearman, a Justice of the Peace, for the Town of North Kingston,
William Reynolds of said North Kingston, an applicant for a Pension, who being duly sworn deposits & faith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear precisely as to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, as is the following grounds --In 1775 I served three days as a Private, under Captain Thomas Clarke, in the Regiment of Militia of which Robert Brown was Colonel. In 1776, I served three months as a Private, in the same Company which Peter Wright was Captain, Charles Dyer was the Colonel of the Regiment, inn 1777 I served six months in said Company as a Private under the same Captain.  In 1778, I served eight months in said Company of which Samuel Dyer was Captain - In 1779 I served six months in the same Company, under the same Officers --In 1780 I served one month under the same Captain, I was in [illegible], all the time alone stated & not engaged any [illegible] or employments, all the places under whom [illegible], one mentioned in my Declaration, I always served as a Private and in this service I claim a Pension
Signed: X (his mark)William Reynolds
Signed: Sylvester G. Shearman
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{Back of page 23 letter}

services upon which he used his claim for pension & if so, will you kindly send me a transcript of same.
I ask this form for the purpose of family history.
 Thanking you in advance.
Signature [illegible]
T.A. Reynolds
102 Chambers St. Room 7
N.Y.

Stamped: US Pension Office Apr. 24, 1905
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[page 2 of form on page 31]

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age, and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  No Clergyman certificate 
3 living references
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  yes
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  3 living witnesses testified credible
XIV. *If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service
    If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?   yes
   Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?   yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation or of such an age as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. **Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.  *QUERE V.
In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposits and saith, that, by reasons of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned before, and in the following grades; For_____year____months and ____ I served as a _____ for ____months and ____days, I served as ______ and for such service I claim a pension"
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Department of The Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

O.W.&N. Div
L.W.B.
I. 21440

April 30, 1896
Sir:
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of William Reynolds, a soldier of the Revolutionary War
you are advised that he made an application for pension on Nov. 12, 1832, at which time he was residing in North Kingston, R.I. and 79 years of age, and his pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a private in the Rhode Island Troops, Revolutionary War; Part of the time he served under Captain Thomas Clarke and Col. Rob. Brown. He enlisted from North Kingston, R.I. 
Very respectfully,
Commissioner
 Mr.s Charles Payne, 
Chattanooga, Penns.(Tenn.)