Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21509, for James Stafford, Rhode Island
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
R.I. Stafford, James S 21509
contents
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21.195
Rhode Island
James J. Stafford
of Kent Co. in the state of Rh. I.
who [ ] a [    ] in the company comm
by Captain Spencer of the [  ] comm
by Col Tillinghart on the Rhode Is.
line for [  ] [    ]
inscribed in the Roll of Rho. Island
at the rate of 40 _ Dollars 00_ cents per annu
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Aug
1833 and [  ] [  ]
[   ] [    ]  [] R I
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $80.00
Some-ant. allowance ending  [    ]
20.00
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim,
{ Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by DD Addison cle
book [ ] Vol. [ ] Page 12[]
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1[] 742
James Stafford
Rhode Island
Private 12 month
[]. 5. 16 [ ]
April 30 1833
R. 362
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BRIEF in the case of James Stafford
County of Kent in the State of . Rhode Island
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 84 yeats
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field officers
under whom he served.
years, months days. As a Gen.Sullivan
[   ] In1776  --- /  ---  private Capt Whitman Col Waterman
[ ] 1777  same  same  same
Oct   Capt Spencer Col Tillinghart
Jan 1778
Aug  2 Capt Randall
from 1778 to 1780 was frequent and thinks about 6 mos
5. In what battles was he engaged? 6 mos at Rhode Island ( was wounded)
Where did he reside when he entered the service?
[   ] R I
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionally evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?
and if so, in what respect? not attached
[] Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
M Clagett Examining Clerk.
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State of Rhode Island &
County of Kent
On the 29th day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in Open court being a court of common pleas
within & for said County now in session
James Stafford a resident of Coventry in the county of Kent
and State of Rhode Island aged 84 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 Congrss, passed June 7, 1832, viz.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
[         ] born August 14th 1748 in Coventry[               ]
[      ]
and this applicant further states that in Dec 1776 he was
drafted & served as a private one month at Warmickneck
in Cap Reuben  [   ] company & Col John Waterman
regiment of R.I. militia
and this applicant further states that in April 1777
he served one month in same capacity at same place
under same officer.
and this applicant further states that in October 1777
he was again drafted & served one month as a private at
[    ] in Cap Michael [   ] company & 
Col Thomas Tillinghart regiment of R I militia
& in January 1778 one month in same capacity at same place under same officers
and this applicant further states that in August 1778 he was again drafted & served two months in following expedition
in Cap Randall company & Col Tillinghart regiment
Rhode Island militia & was in the Battle where he received a musket ball in his left leg which remains
there to this day & can be plainly felt
and from 1778 until 1780 he was frequently called 
upon & always went to guard the shores of Naragansett Bay & according to the best of his recollection served about six months but can not particularize the month
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about six months but cannot particularize the months
[     ] he served out & was honourably
discharged but never had a written discharge
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I was 
drafted & served two months in following expedition
in Cap Randall company & Col [                    ]
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present, and declared that his name 
is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
James hisXmark Stafford
Witness John Brown. Clk
We, a Clergyman, residing in the
and residing in hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and that concur in that opinion.
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier,
and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that

who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the
and that Frederick Hamilton
who also signed the same are residents in the 
town of Harreck in the County of the Hunt
and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, John Brown, Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court,
in the matter of this application of James Stafford
for a pension,
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
seal of office, this Fourth day of September
in the year 1832
John Brown
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And now on this 30th day of May 1833 James
Stafford maketh further oath in explanation
of his declaration made August 29 in court
[  ], In December 1776 he served one month
as stated in his said Declaration in April 1777
he served another month as stated in october
1777 he served one month as stated. In January 
1778 he served one month as stated. In August
1778 he served two months as stated in Sallis
this exhibition
And this affidavit further says after Sullivans
exhibition, & between November 1778 & March
1780. until the British evacuated Rhoce Island
he served six months at least as a private
this service was [  ] under diffirent
Commanders. Sometimes sir Captain Spencer
company & Capt Johnsons Company & sometimes
in Capt Thomas Tillinghart      who was afterwards
Colonel & also Col John Waterman sometimes
Commander this service was performed in
watching & garding the shores of Naragansett
Bay. sometimes he was out a week, sometimes
a month & sometimes two months, and he
declares that between 1778 & March 1780 he
served six months as above stated___
He
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served twelve months at least during the
Revolutionary war as a private for which he
claims a pension
And he further says that in [  ] of his
service he [  ] the [   ] of Frederic Hamilton who was with him a part  of the time
and he now produces, the certificate of the
Revd. Thomas Manchester & Joseph Capwell
who are acquainted with him and are his neighbors
who will testify as to his character &
his reputation of having been a soldier in
the revolution    his
James Stafford X
                               mark
Sworn to before me this 16th
of May 1833 by said James 
Arnold Bowen Justice of the Peace
We Thomas Manchester a [   ] residing
in West Greenwich & Joseph Capwell residing
in Coventry [  ] certify that we are well
acquainted with James Stafford who has subscribed
& sworn to the above declaration that we believe
him to be in the 85th year of age that he is reputed and
believed in the neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the revolution and
that we concur in that opinion 
Thos Manchester
Joseph Capwell
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[   ] [ ] Coventry May 30 1833
Personally appeared before me the above
named Thomas Manchester & Joseph Capwell
and made oath to the truth of the certificate
by them signed and I further certify that
said Thomas is a Clergyman residing in 
West Greenwich & that he & the said Joseph who
resides in Coventry are both credible witnesses
& their statement entitled to credit
Arnold Bowen Justice of the Peace
Sent to the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Arnold Bowen is a Justice of the Peace
for the town of Coventry in our County of Kent, tthat the above is his proper signature in his own hand writing, that full faith & credit is and ought to be
given to all his official acts.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set n my name & seal of said Court of East Greenwich
this thirty five day of May
in the year 1833
John Brown, Clk
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Revolution
21 509
INVALID
File No. 21, 509
James Stafford
[  ] Rev War
Act: June 7 ' 32
Index:- Vol.  [ ], Page  []91
{ Arrangement of 1870. }
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15 / [  ]
James Stafford
[ ] [    ] []   [ ]
[    ]  [] [ ]  [ ] 4 5 11
12 & 16 which have been
[   ] May 30 1833
B.C.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red in k, will apply to the claim of
James Staffor
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? no
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension 
he is entitled? no
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished 
from any other seal? yes
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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 to his
revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not
obtaining it? no
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 found? living witness
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military sevice, 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? the court has
  Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? !
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 so answered? 7
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUEERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the 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 the Peace, &c. A. H. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason 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 than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For__year __ __ months and __ __, I served as a ___
For ____ months and ____ __ days, I served as a ______; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service.
The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served ; the duration of each term of engagement ; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embolied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison ; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
  In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
  IN every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.