Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17480, Samuel Hicks, R.I.
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Service R.I.
Hicks, Samuel
Number S.17480
Carded
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3170
Rhode Island

Samuel Hicks
of Bristol in the State of RI
who was a Lieute in the Company command
by Captain [blank] of the Regt command
by Col Richmond in the RI
line for 9 May 25 [illegible] Lieut
2 - 20 " Ensign
11 - 15 " Sergt

Inscribed on the Role of RI
at the rate of 215 Dollars 26 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Dec
1832 and Sent Saml
Haile Warren RI

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $322.8
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33. 107.6
$430.5

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded J H Mc Blair
Book D. Vol. 3rd. Page 116.
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Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June the 7, 1832.

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations County of Bristol JP. on this twenty eighth day of July A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Bristol, within and for the County in said state, Samuel Hicks, a resident of Warren in the County of Bristol in said state, aged eighty four years and upwards, 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.th 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, viz:

In the latter part of the month of January A.D. 1777 he volunteered and served as a Sergeant in the Militia in guarding the shores in the County of Bristol about ten days.  Some time about the first of February A.D. 1777, Nathaniel Whiting was drafted for one month in Captain Ezra Ormsbee's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren to guard the shores in said County of Bristol, and he, the said Samuel Hicks served as a substitute for said Nathaniel Whiting one month in said Company of Militia in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol; at the expiration of said month's service Paul Chase was drafted in said Captain Ormsbee's Company of Militia for one month, and he the said Samuel Hicks served as a substitute for said Paul Chase in said Company during said term of one month in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol.  He acted as a sergeant in this service and was discharged about the last of March A.D. 1777.  About the 1st of April A.D. 1777, he was drafted in said Capt Ezra Ormsbee's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren for one month, and he served as a Sergeant in said Company during said term of one month in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol and was discharged about 1st of May A.D. 1777, Smith Bowen was Lieutenant of said Company; said Company belonged to Colonel Nathan Miller's Regiment.  Thomas Grey was Lieutenant Colonel and Benjamin Bosworth was Major.

On the first of May A.D. 1777 he enlisted into Captain Thomas Arnold's Company in Colonel Christopher Greene's Regiment of the Continental line for the term of three years, and served in the capacity of first Lieutenant of said Company until on or about the twenty fifth day of February A.D. 1778, when he resigned his commission and his resignation was accepted by general Washington and he was discharged.  He served about nine months and twenty five days in said Company & Regiment; the particulars of which service he stated in his declaration by him made on oath before this Court on the sixteen of July A.D. 1832.

He also served from about the middle of the month of November A.D. 1775 to the middle of the month of November A.D. 1776, in the Company commanded by Captain Billings Throop, until his death and afterward.
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... commanded by Captain Caleb Carr, in Colonel William Richmond's Regiment, which Regiment was taken into Continental pay & became a part of the Army of the United States Colonies. The particulars of this service he has stated in his declaration made before this Court on Said sixteenth of July 1832.

Some time in the month of August A.D. 1778, the precise time he cannot recollect, he was drafted in Captain Curtis Cole's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren for the term of twenty days, and he was detached from said Company and served during said term of twenty days as a Boatman at Bristol Ferry in transporting even said Ferry troops and military stores. He was in said service at the time of General Sullivan's expedition and the battle on Rhode Island. Thomas Easterbrooks was Lieutenant and Ichabod Cole was Ensign of said Company; said Company at this time belonged to Col. Nathan Miller's Regiment of Militia.

And He the said Samuel Hicks further declares, that from the best of his recollection he is confident that he served, under the several enlistments in the Continental Army and drafts in the Militia & as substitute; in the War of the Revolution about two years and two months.

He further declares, that he was born in the Town of Warren aforesaid, on the nineteenth day of November A.D. Seventeen hundred forty seven; that his age is recorded in the Town Clerk's office in said Town, a copy of which record is here produced to the Court.

He lived in said Town of Warren when he entered said service; has lived in said Town since the Revolutionary War and now lives in said Town.

He received no written discharge from said service, to the best of his recollection; he has no written discharge; he was verbally discharged by the Commanding officer at the expiration of each of the aforesaid terms of service. He has no dockumentary [documentary] evidence of his service.

He knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service in the Militia.

The Clergymen in his neighbourhood have [illegible] time & have no personal knowledge of his Revolutionary service.

He is known to the following persons in [illegible] who can testify to his character for [illegible] belief of his services as a [illegible] viz. Capt Seth Cole and Ichabod Cole [illegible]

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.

Sworn to & subscribed this day & year aforesaid
Attest, Ichabod Davis Clerk
Samuel Hicks
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The Seth Cole, residing in the Town of Warren aforesaid, and Ichabod Cole residing in the same Town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Hicks who has subscribed and sworn to the afore written & above declaration; that we believe him to be upwards of eighty four years of age; that he is reported and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Seth Cole
Ichabod Cole
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Attest, Ichabod Davis Clerk

Where 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 Samuel Hicks, the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Seth Cole who has signed the preceeding [preceding] certificate is resident in the Town of Warren aforesaid, and that Ichabod Cole, who has signed the same is a resident in the same Town and are credible persons and their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

I Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original preceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Hicks for A Pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 24 day of July AD 1832
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk
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2230
Saml Hicks
RI

[illegible]
The 5 & 15 interrogations with brief [illegible] with.

Levi Haile
Warren RI
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2230
BRIEF in the case of Samuel Hicks of Bristol of [struck through] Bristol by in the State of Rhode 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? 84
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[table headings: Period, Duration of Service, Rank, Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served]

About middle of Nov - to middle of Nov 1776. 1 year. private. Capt Billings Throop & Capt Carr Col Richmonds - was taken into Continental pay [illegible]

1777 latter [later] part of Jany. 10 days. Sergeant.

" [1777] about first of Feby. 1 month. Substitute. Capt Ezra Ormsbee. acted as Sergeant in this service.

" [1777] at expiration of said month [footnote:] was discharged about last of March '77. 1 month. do. do.

" [1777] About 1 April to 1 May '77 [footnote:] when he rejoined his Commission. 1 month. Sergeant. do. Col N. Miller _ Lt Col Grey

" [1777] 1 May to 25 Feby '78. 9 months 25 days. 1st Lieut. Capt Thos Arnold _ Col C Greene Continental

1778 Sometime in August.  Capt Curtis Cole - as a boatman on Bristol Ferry [footnote:] was in said Service at the time of Sullivan's Expedition
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5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Warren
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? No living witness no documents
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
The [illegible] does not pass under the Seal [illegible] the Clerk signs each paper
No Clergyman's Certificate

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
W.C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
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State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

TOWN -CLERK'S OFFICE, WARREN

July 10th, 1832.

Samuel Hicks, son of Samual Hicks, and Thankfull his wife, was born on the 19th day of November A.D. Seventeen Hundred Forty Seven.

A true copy of record.

Witness Samuel Randall Town Clerk
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17480
INVALID.

No. 17480
Samuel Hicks
Lieut Rev War

Act: June 7" 32
Annex:-Vol. 1, Page 452

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Jonathan Andrews resident in East Greenwich in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, aged seventy one years and upwards, on solemn oath, being sworn according to law, do testify and say, that on the 17th day of May A.D. 1777, I enlisted as a private soldier in Captain Thomas Arnold's Company in Colonel Christopher Greene's Regiment of the Continental line for the term of three years, and I served as a private soldier in said Continental line during the whole of said term of three years, a part of said term in said Colonel Greene's Regiment and the remainder of said term in Colonel Israel Angel's [Angell's] Regiment: and I further testify and say, that Samuel Hicks resident in Warren in the County of Bristol in said State enlisted into said Captain Thomas Arnold's Company in said Colonel Greene's Regiment on or about the first day of May A.D. 1777, and said Samuel Hicks served as first Lieutenant of said Captain Arnold's Company from the said time of his enlistment until on or about the twenty fifth day of February A.D. 1778, when he resigned his commission of first Lieutenant of said Company.
Jonathan Andrews

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Bristol JP in Warren, November the 22d A.D. 1832.
Then the above named Jonathan Andrews personally appearing before me, the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bristol in said State, and being sworn according to law, make oath to the truth of the aforewritten deposition to which he subscribed his name in my presence: taken at the request of the above named Samuel Hicks to be used in his application for the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832, entitled an Act Supplementary to the Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution.  And I hereby certify, that I am acquainted with said Jonathan Andrews, that he is a credible person and his statement is entitled to credit.
Levi Haile Justice of the Peace.
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The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Bristol JC. 

I, Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Please for the County of Bristol in said State, do hereby certify, that Levi Haile, who has certified the taking of the within written deposition is a Justice of the Peace for said Court of Bristol authorized by law to take depositions, and that the signature annexed to the certificate of captain of said deposition is the genuine signature of said Levi Haile.

The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Bristol in said County, this 27th day of November, A.D. 1832.

J. Davis Clk
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Warren, R.I. November the 30th 1832

Sir,
I herewith return the dockuments [documents] in support of the claims of the following named persons for pensions, viz.
John Sission, James Goff, Jonathan Bushee, Samuel Hicks, Joseph Mumo, Barnard Haile, Seth Cole, Ichabod Cole, Martin Luther, John Corner, James Bushee and Aaron Turner.

The defects in the authentication of the papers have been corrected by the Clerk of the Court. And the Applicants have made all the additional proof or explanation which is in their power at present to make. The Applicants, by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, are unable in some cases to state the precise times of entering and leaving the service, and in such cases they have made affidavits, as required, which are forwarded with the dockuments [documents]. They hope, that in deciding upon their claims reasonable allowance will be made for their old age and infirmities, and for the great difficulty, and, in some cases absolute impossibility of procuring precise and positive proof of their services. It would be highly gratifying to these claimants to have [crossed out text] a decision upon their claims as soon as it may be convenient; for several of them are in destitute circumstances; and the pensions, which they confidently expect, and believe themselves justly entitled to, would be a great relief to them.

Very Respectfully
Your obedt Servt
Levi Haile

J.L. Edwards Esq.
War Department
Pension Office
Washington
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I James Bushee resident in Warren in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, of the age of seventy seven years & upwards, on solemn oath do testify and say, that Samuel Hicks, resident in said Warren, on or about the middle of the month of November A.D. 1775, enlisted in the Army of the United States in Captain Billings Throop's Company in Colonel William Richmonds' Regiment for the Term of twelve months. Then after said enlistment said Throop died and Caleb Carr was appointed Captain of said Company; said Company was the seventh Company & said Regiment was the first Regiment of the Brigade raised by said State which was [taken] into Continental pay: said Samuel Hicks served in said Company during the whole of said Twelve months and was discharged about the middle of November A.D. 1776. He served as first Sergeant of said Company until the month of August A.D. 1776, when he was appointed Ensign of said Company and he served as Ensign in said Company from that time until he was discharged. I served as a private soldier in said Company during the whole of said time.

James Bushee
Sworn to and submitted in [illegible] Court this 24th day of July AD 1832
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

The Court hereby certify that it appears to them, that James Bushee, who has subscribed and sworn to the aforewritten deposition, is a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk
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22 [date illegible]

Saml Hicks

Lieut - 9 mo 25-days
Ensign 2 " 20 [2 months 20 days]
Sergt 11 15 days [11 months 15 days]
[illegible]

$215.26

Saml Haile
Warren RI
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Saml Hicks which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration above show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the 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? Yes

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, 2832? 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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2

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

VII. 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? Yes

XIV. + If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? - 

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? -

XVI. ++ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [Yes - crossed out] No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes

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 the Peace, &c. A. B. 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 ___ days, I served as a ___. For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension."
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 [begin italics] about three or four months [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

+QUERE XIV. [begin italics] Proof of Service. [end italics]
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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.

++QUERE XVI. [begin italics] Mode of authenticating papers. [end italics]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying office who authenticated 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 end of which must pass under the seal of the office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th, of June, 1832.
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
County of Bristol JP

On this sixteenth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred thirty two, personally appeared before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Common Please now sitting at Bristol within and for the County of Bristol in said State, Samuel Hicks, a resident of Warren in the County of Bristol in said State, aged eighty four years and upwards who being first duly sworn in according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year seventeen hundred seventy five about the middle of the month of November of that year, in Captain Billings Throop's Company in Colonel William Richmond's Regiment; that was after his enlistment said Throop died and Caleb Carr was appointed Captain; and that [when?] after his enlistment said Regiment was taken into Continental pay: said Company was the seventh Company and said Regiment the first Regiment of the Brigade raised by said State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations which was taken into Continental pay and became part of the Army of the United Colonies; that he the said Samuel Hicks enlisted in said Company for the term of one year, and serviced in the capacity of first sergeant of said Company until the month of August A.D. 1776, when he was appointed Ensign of said Company, and [that - crossed out] his commission as Ensign of said Company under the brand or signature of John Hancock President of the Continental Congress bears date the Twenty sixth day of August A.D. 1776, that he the said Samuel Hicks continued from the receipt of his appointment to serve as Ensign of said Company until the expiration of his term of enlistment which was about the middle of November A.D. 1776 that he served in said Company during the whole of said term of one year that he served the principal part of said time about the shores of Narragansett Bay, that towards the close of said service said Regiment went up Long Island Sound in whale boats and went onto Long Island and took several prisoners and beat off two sloops.  Peleg Heath was first Lieutenant and Benjamin Bosworth was Ensign of said Company until August A.D. 1776, when Samuel Stephens was appointed first Lieutenant.

He was appointed Ensign of said Company: Caleb Gardner, he thinks, was Lieutenant Colonel and William Barton Major of said Regiment. He, the said Samuel Hicks enlisted a second time in the month of May A.D. 1777, in Captain Thomas Arnold's Company in Colonel Christopher Greene's Regiment.
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... of the Continental line for the term of three years:

Soon after his said second enlistment he was appointed first Lieutenant of said Company and served in the capacity of first Lieutenant of said Company until on or about the twenty fifth day of February A.D. 1778, when he resigned his commission to General Washington, his resignation was accepted and he was discharged by General Washington. [Illegible] was Lieutenant Colonel and Samuel Ward was Major of said Regiment: and Blanchard was Ensign of said Company.

Said Regiment marched through the State of Connecticut to [illegible] in the State of New York where they encamped for some time, and thence marched through New Jersey to Pennsylvania; and thence marched to Red Bank. He the said Hicks was at the battle in fort Mifflin; and he also fought in the battle of Red Bank. He was born in the town of Warren in said County of Bristol and resided in said town of Warren when he entered the services stated in this declaration, and now resides in said Town.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any Agency in any State.

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Hicks
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that Samuel Hicks the above named applicant was A revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

I Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said in the matter of the application of Samuel Hicks for A pension

[illegible] whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this [illegible] day of July AD 1832
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk
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The State of [Rhode Island and] Providence Plantations
Bristol JC [illegible] the 26th A.D. 1832.

This day [personally appeared] before me the undersigned a Justice of the [Court of] Common Pleas for said County of Bristol in said State, Samuel Hicks a resident of Warren in said County who on the 16th and 28th days of July A.D. 1832, made his declarations on his oath before said Court in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832, & being duly sworn deposeth and saith, ["that" crossed out] by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear more positively as to the precise length of his service, than he has stated in his said declarations, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, in the war of the Revolution in the manner stated in his said declarations, and in the following grades: For twenty days I the said Samuel Hicks served as a private soldier and boatman: for twelve months and twenty days I served as a Sergeant: and for two months and twenty days I served as an Ensign; and for nine months and twenty ["five" crossed out] days I served as a first Lieutenant; and for such service I claim a pension.
Samuel Hicks

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written
Daniel Bosworth Jus. Court C Pleas

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Bristol JC.
I Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol in said State, do hereby certify, that the above named Daniel Bosworth, who has certified the above written affidavit, is Chief Justice of said Court, and that the signature above written is the genuine signature of said Daniel Bosworth. The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Bristol in said County this 26th day of November A.D. 1832.
I. Davis Clerk