Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21822, Barnet Hopkins, R.I.
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R.I.      
Hopkins, Barnet     
S.21822
Page 2

15721
Rhode Island

Barnet Hopkins
of [unclear] in the State of R. Island
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Williams of the Rgt. commanded
by Col. Cook in the Rho Island
line for 14 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of 46 Dollars 17 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of July
1833 and [unclear]
[unclear] Providence R.I.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $93.34
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "  23.33
                                                             $116.67

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk
Book 8 Vol. 2[.]00 Page 112
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22191
Barnet Hopkins
R.I.

Private 14 Month

B. Cowell
Providence RI
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BRIEF in the case of Barnet Hopkins
[?] of Providence in the State of R.I.
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open 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.
[a printed table, 4 columns with listed headings]
Period | Duration of Service | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
fall in 1776 enters |  … years 3 months … days| private | Cap William Col Cook
1777 draft | … years 2 months … days | “[same as above] | Cap Hopkins Cal Kimball
“ [same as above] “| … years 1 months … days| ” | “ Knight … “ “
“  “ | … years 2 months … days | “ | Cp Davis “ “
Onto winter “ “ | … years 1 months … days | “ | Cp Smith forgotten [he does not remember his Col for this period]
“ “ | … years 1 months … days | “ | Cp [illegible] Col Kimball
1778 “ | … years 1 months … days | “ | Cp Janith “
“ “ | … years 2 months … days | “ | Howard  Col Cowell

5. In what battled was he engaged? None

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Scituate R.I.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by tradtionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Three Living Witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? The papers are not allowed

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the save above mention.
Winter 1780 “ … 1 … “ [same format as the above table] Cap Colwell Col Colwell [sic]
1 — 2  — 0 [sum of total service, adding to 1 year 2 months]

[signature] George Taylor
Examining Clerk
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[written in pen] Barnet Hopkins

[written in pencil] not to be transmitted

[written in pen] 22191
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
———————
Rhode-Island District, sc. August Term 1832
County of Providence
On this Eighth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a [crossed out] special [end crossed out] District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session— Barnet Hopkins a resident of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 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.
He was Born July 31st 1759 in Scituate, has no record —
Lived in Scituate when he enlisted the Service and since the War had lived has lived [sic] in Scituate V Fortie where he now resides—
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and this applicant further states that in in [sic] the fall of 1776 he enlisted in Cap James Williams company & Col Cooks regiment of Rhode Island Militia for three months and served on Rhode Island, was there when the British landed

and this applicant further states that early in the year 1777 he was drafted & served two months at different times in Warwick in Capt Isaac Hopkins & Capt. [illegible] company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that the summer of 1777 he was drafted & served one month at Warwick in Cap Johnathan Knights company Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that in the fall of 1777 he was drafted & served two months at different times at Warwick in Cap Jeremiah Davis company Col Kimballs regiment of Militia

and this applicant further states that in October 1777 he was drafted & served one month at [illegible] [crossed out words] in Spencers expedition in Cap Coomer Smiths company who the Colonel he has forgot – in the Militia —

and this applicant further states that in the winter of 1777 he was drafted & served one month at Warwick in Cap Edwards company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that the winder of 1777 & 8 he was drafted & served one month at Warwick in Cap Coomer Smiths company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that early in the year 1778 he was drafted & served one month at Warwick in Cap Simeon Harringtons company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —
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of 1777 & 8 he was drafted and served one month at Warwick in Cap Coomer Smiths company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that early in the year 1778 he was drafted & served one month at Warwick in Cap Simeon Harringtons company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that in August 1778 he was drafted & served one month on Rhode Island in Sullivans expedition in Cap Payne’s company & Col John Colwells regiment of Militia

and this applicant further states that in July & August 1780 he was drafted & served two months at Breton’s Point R.I in Cap [name illegible, appears to be A___asiah Wetherleads, but this transcriber can find no historical records of a Captain Wetherleads or similar] company & Col Kimballs regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that in the fall of 1780 he was drafted & served two months at Providence in Cap Wm [William] Howards company & Col John Colwells regiment of Militia —

and this applicant further states that in the winter of 1780 he was drafted & served one month at Providence in Cap Christopher Colwells company & Col John Colwells regiment of Militia —-

All of which several enlistment & drafts he served out as a private and was honorably discharged but never had a written discharge —
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He hereby relinquished 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 Barnet Hopkins His X Mark 

We, [illegible name] A Clergyman, residing in the [——] and [——] residing in [——] hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [——] who has subscribed and sword 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 we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [no signature]

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 Revolutionory [sic] Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joseph Tucker, Peter Hopkins, and Oliver Arnold who have testified as aforesaid are residents as they state and are credible persons 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 Barnet Hopkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 6 day of February th 1833
[signature] Benja Cowell Clk
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Revolution
21822
INVALID.
———
File No. 21,822
Barnet Hopkins
Pre Rev War
———
Act: June 7th 82
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870]
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22191
Barnet
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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 Barnet Hopkins which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 

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? yy

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 determined to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1823? yy

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy

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? yy
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XI. Has the application 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?

XII. If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, if there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, had he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

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 his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy
	Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy

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? yy

XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [written in pencil, or perhaps scraped away] no

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

——————

EXPLANATORY NOTES
* QUERE 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. 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 nest 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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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 that 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 a 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 embodied 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. 
[hand pointing right icon] 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.
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I, Peter Hopkins of Foster in the county of Providence and state of Rhode Island of [illegible] age and engaged according to [illegible] do testify and say that I knew of Barnet Hopkins being in the army of this Revolution at two different times. One of the times I think he earned these [illegible] the other time I do not [illegible] how long he served.
Peter Hopkins

State of Rhode Island
Providence [illegible] 1832.
Personally came Peter Hopkins [illegible] to the above
[illegible] and made oath to the truth of the same
before me Calvin Brown Justice of the Peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Providence sc.
I, William R. Watson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Providence, in said State, do hereby certify that [handwritten] Calvin Brown is a Justice of the Peace for the town of [handwritten] Foster. in said county and State:-that he is by the laws of said State, authorised to administer oaths and take depositions: and that the signature to the annexed document, puporting to be his, [handwritten] is in the proper hand writing of said [handwritten] Brown.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of said Court, at Providence, this [handwritten] ninth day of [handwritten] January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-[handwritten] three. Matson
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[note: this is a copy of another page in this file, flipped 180 degrees. Same note placed on copied page.]

I Ezekiel Hopkins of Fertie on oath do testify and say that I am personally well acquainted with the within named Peter Hopkins & know that he is a man of truth & veracity & sustains that character in the neighborhood where he lives
[signed] Ezekiel Hopkins

Sworn to before me
Jany 8 1833 
Benja Cowell Clerk
[illegible]

[Written at bottom, upside down]
Peter Hopkins
Deposition
Page 17

[note: this is a copy of another page in this file, flipped 180 degrees. Same note placed on copied page.]

[Written at top]
Peter Hopkins
Deposition

[Note: remainder of page is written upside down]

I Ezekiel Hopkins of Fertie on oath do testify and say that I am personally well acquainted with the within named Peter Hopkins & know that he is a man of truth & veracity & sustains that character in the neighborhood where he lives
[signed] Ezekiel Hopkins

Sworn to before me
Jany 8 1833 
Benja Cowell Clerk
[illegible]
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I Oliver Arnold of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island of lawful age and engaged [illegible] to law to testify and say that I know of Barnet Hopkins serving three month at Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War under capt James Williams
Oliver Arnold

State of Rhode Island [illegible]

Providence of Foster August A.D. 1889.
Personally came the above named Olive Arnold signed to the above deposition and [illegible] with to the truth of the same. 
Before me 
[signature] Calvin Brown Justice of the Peace 

------

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 

Providence sc.

I, William R. Watson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Providence, in said State, do hereby certify that Calvin Brown is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Foster in said county and State:- that he is by the laws of said State, authorised to administer oaths and take depositions: and that the signature- to the annexed document, puporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of said Brown 

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of said Court, at Providence, this ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three

William R Watson
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I Ezekiel Hopkins of Fortie On oath do testify and I say that I am well acquainted with the within named Oliver Arnold & know that he sustains the character of a man of truth & veracity in the neighborhood where he lives
[signed] Ezekiel Hopkins

Sworn to before me 
Jany 8th 1833 Benja Cowell 
[illegible] Dis’t Court
RI [illegible]

[written upside down on the bottom of the page]
Oliver
Arnold
Deposition
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Oliver
Arnold
Deposition
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I, Joseph Preston of in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island of age and engaged
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I Ezekiel Hopkins of Fortie do testify and say that I am personally acquainted with the within named Joseph Tucker & know that he has always sustained the character of a man of truth & veracity in his neighborhood
[signed] Ezekiel Hopkins

Sworn to before me
Benja Cowell
Jany 8th 1833
[illegible] Dis't Court



[further down the page]
Joseph Tucker
Deposition