Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22290, David Spencer Howland, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
RI

Howland, David Spencer
or Spencer,
or Domine

NUMBER
W.22290

CONTENTS
Phebe Spencer
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Rhode Island 5569

Phebe Spencer Howland, widow of David Spencer Howland, or Spencer or Domine decd [deceased], R.I., who was a pensioner under the Act of [blank] and who died on the 8th of Novr. [November] 1800, of Providence Co. in the State of R. Island, who was a private in the compy [company] commanded by Captain Manchester of the Regt commanded by Col. Crary in the R. I. brigade ["line" crossed out] for 15 months private.

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 50 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of June 1840 and sent to Hon. N. R. Knight, Senate U. States.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840 = $225.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 M. '41 25.00
$250.00

{Act July 7, 1838.}

Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk
Book A Vol. 2 Page 10 -
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Hon N R Knight
US Senate
Washington
DC

B. Cowell
June 15, 1840
P. Spencer
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Providence June 15 1840

Dr [Dear] Sir

Your letter of 29 of April withe [with] the Commissioner of RI respecting the claim of Phebe Spencer of David Spencer was received when I was confined to my bed with sickness. The Commissioner observes there is no such claim on file - By looking to the testimony you will see that he was sometimes called David Spencer Howland sometimes David Spencer, sometimes David Domine, &c. The reason whey he was called by different names is set forth in her declaration & in the evidence. It was because his father was a slave. It was usual in this state when slavery existed to call slaves by their masters [master's] names & as his father had changed masters several times therefore had been called by different names -

All this will appear from the evidence which I will thank you to examine. I should think however it could not make
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the least difference by what name he was called if his identity was established and if his identify is not established beyond all doubt by disinterested & unimpeachable testimony I will give up the claim Be kind enough to look at it in the Pension office when convenient, Her case was examined before the Municipal Court & ordered to be certified he enlisted by the name David Spencer that was his name at the time & his name appears in an original Roll which I handed you when you left Providence the last time, & his services & his identity as husband of Phebe are [placed?] by a witness who served with him & who now draws a pension for the same services This witness (Thomas Remington) is a very respectable man who always knew them - The marriage is also proved beyond all doubt as you will see by the testimony

I am sincerely yours
Benja Cowell

Hon N R Knight
Page 6

State of Rhode Island &c
County of Providence

Personally appeared on this 4th day of August AD 1838 in open Court being the Municipal Court of the City of Providence and a Court of Record Phebe Spencer Howland alias Domine now resident in the City of Providence aged 81 years who being 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 July 7 1838 Entitled "an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows" & that she is the widow of David Spencer Howland alias Domine formerly of Tiverton in the County of Newport who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution that Re enlisted and served fifteen months, as a private in Captain Christopher Manchesters [Manchester's] Company and Col Crarys [Crary's] regiment. This service he believes was in 1777 & 1778. That afterwards in 1779 he served again in Capt Davids [David's] Company
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of Militia but she cannot specify his services, and she further declares that she was married to the said David in the month of December AD 1779 the exact day she cannot remember but it was just before Christmas she was married in said Tiverton by Thomas Howland Esq but her marriage is not recorded in any public or private record: that her husband the said David died on the Eighth day of November AD 1800. that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred & ninety four viz at the time above stated.

Phebe Spencer Howland
+ Her mark

Witness
Thomas Burgess

Municipal Court of the City of Providence, August 4th 1838.
Subscribed and duly sworn to by Phebe Spencer Howland in open Court.
Albert G. Greene
Clerk
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I Thomas Remington of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy Six years on solemn oath do testify and say, that at the time of the Revolutionary war I was acquainted with David Spencer alias Howland alias Domine, he was a coloured man, and the names of Spencer and Howland were the names of Different Masters with whom he served, it being usual to call coloured servants by their master's name. Domine I believe was his father's name - said David and myself served together in the fifteen months service in Capt. Christopher Manchester's Company, in the Reg. of Col. Crary, in the Rhode Island State troops.- I entered into said Company at said Tiverton in the early part of the year 1777 and continued in it till I was discharged on the sixteenth day of March 1778, and said David was in the Company all the time I belonged to it, and was in it when I entered, and I believe he served his full term of fifteen months - said David was an inhabitant of said Tiverton and died in a few years after the close of the war, but I had not much knowledge of him after we came out of the 15 months service.-

Phebe Spencer Howland, alias Domine who now resides in Providence and formerly lived in Riverton is said to be and I believed is the widow of said David, she is so considered in the neighborhood where they resided in his life time -
Thomas Remington


State of Rhode Island
County of Newport [flourish bracket] Ss.
Be it known that on the 21st day of July 1837 before the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace on and for said County, personally appeared Thomas Remington and made oath to the truth of his above Deposition and Subscribed the same and I further certify that said Deponent is a credible person.
Before me,
Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
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I William Fish of Tiverton, in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, aged Seventy one years, being duly sworn, do testify and say, that, I was well acquainted with David Spencer alias David Howland and also sometime called David Domini [Domine], a Colored man, formerly of this town, and I am also acquainted with his widow Phebe, now living in the City of Providence.-

At the time of the Revolutionary war, but what year I am not able to say positively, the said David and Phebe were married by Thomas Howland a Justice of the Peace, in said Tiverton.- we all lived in said Tiverton at the time - and said Thomas Howland was keeping a school in the neighborhood, and went from my father's house, where I lived, when he went to marry them, and come back there after he had married them - I was to have gone with him to see them married, but for some reason did not.- he told me when he came back that he had married them - said David and Phebe lived within a mile of my father's, and I passed their house frequently. they continued to live together as husband and wife till [until] his death, near thirty years ago, and were esteemed and respected by the neighbours [neighbors] as married people. the said Phebe has never been married since the death of her said husband David, to my knowledge or belief - I remember that they were married the first part of winter, either in November or December, and I think soon after the British left Rhode Island, but of this I am not positive.

William Fish


State of Rhode Island
County of Newport
Be it known that at Tiverton, in the County aforesaid, on the second day of March 1838, before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County of Newport, personally appeared William Fish and subscribed the above deposition & made oath to the truth of the same & further certify that said Fish is a credible person
Asa Gray, Justice Peace
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State of Rhode Island
County of Newport

Town Clerk's Office, Tiverton, September 7, 1838
I Asa Gray, Town Clerk of the town of Tiverton, do hereby certify that I am the keeper and have the custody of the Records of the births and Marriages of said town and I further certify that after examination I cannot find the marriage of David Spencer, alias David Spencer Howland to Phebe Wanton recorded in said town; I also certify that many marriages take place in said town, and have taken place for many years, as I believe, which are never brought to be recorded -

Asa Gray Town Clerk


State of Rhode Island &c.
Providence Sc. Providence Sep 7, 1838
Then the aforesaid Asa Gray appeared and made oath to the truth of the aforegoing
before me
William Aplin
Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretary's office Sept 12, AD 1838

I Certify, that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday of May eighteen hundred thirty seven [1837], Asa Gray was elected a Justice of the Peace for the town of Tiverton in the County of Newport, for one year, and Commissioned accordingly: as appears of record in this office.

Witness Henry Bowen Secry.
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
William Sprague
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 aforewritten attestation subscribed, is in 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 sale of said State to be affixed, at Providence, this twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight [1838] and of Independence the sixty-third

Wm Sprague

By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secry
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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence Sc.  I, John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the County of Providence in said State, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify, that William Aplin Esquire before whom the aforegoing affidavit was sworn, is a Justice of the Peace for the City of Providence in said County; that by Law he is authorized and qualified to administer oaths and take depositions; and that his signature thereto written is genuine.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of our said Court at the City of Providence this eighth day of September AD 1838.
John W. Smith Clerk
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I Catherine Brown of the City of Providence formerly the wife of Annanias Brown do testify & say that I am the eldest child of David Spencer Howland & Phebe Spencer Howland formerly of Tiverton; that I am now fifty seven years of age & upwards, that I was born in year 1781, February 18 and believe & have always understood, that my father died in February AD 1800 at Tiverton aforesaid & since then my mother has remained unmarried & is now my fathers widow

Catharine Brown
x her mark

Witness Thomas Burgess

Municipal Court of the City of Providence, August 4th 1838. Subscribed and duly sworn to by Catherine Brown, in open Court.
Albert G. Greene, Clerk.
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I George W. Gladding of the City of Providence in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, on Solemn oath do certify and say, that I am now in the fifty first year of my age,- that I have been acquainted with Phebe Spencer Howland who has signed the aforegoing Declaration, and with Catherine Brown who has signed the preceding affidavit, for about two years past, that said Catherine lived in my family during that time, and that said Phebe and Catherine are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.

George W. Gladding


Municipal Court the City of Providence, August 4, 1838.
Subscribed, and duly sworn to, by George W. Gladding in open Court.
Albert G. Greene, Clerk

[vertical handwriting, in right margin] Mrs. Phebe Howland
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of Phebe Spencer Howland, alias Domine, to obtain the benefit of the pensions of the Act of Congress of July 7th A.D. 1838, entitled "An Act granting half-pay and pensions to certain Widows."

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and have affixed the Seal of Said Court, this eleventh day of September A.D. 1838.

Albert G. Greene,
Clerk.



V 2417
Phebe Spencer Howland
R.I. &c
Act 7. July 28

admd
15 mo pri. Capt. Manchester Col. Crary
50$ R.I. brigade

no deduction

Hon N. R. Knight
Senate
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Rev WIDOW, &c.

File No. 22,290 Howland
Phebe Spencer
Widow of David Spencer Howland
Priv. Rev. War

Act July 7" 1838
Index: Vol. A, Page 236

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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V
Lett. Benj. Cowell
apr 23-'39
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Providence March 25 1840

Dr [Dear] Sir

In answer to the Commisioners [Commissioner's] letter of April 25 1839 respecting the claim of Phebe Spencer widow of David Spencer for a pension under the act of July 7 1828 I herewith enclose further evidence both as to the service & the marriage - It was alleged in the declaration & it was proved by the testimony of Thomas Remington (who served with him) that Spencer served 12 Months in Capt Manchesters [Manchester's] Co & Col Crarys [Crary's] Regiment and enclosed is an original "Monthly pay abstract" dated Nov 1777 which fully corroborates the allegation & the evidence

The names of David Spencer & Thomas Remington the witness are both on the Roll -

In regard to the marriage it was alleged she was married in the fall of 1779 but the evidence forwarded to the Commission
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was not satisfactory their [there] being no record of it but I hope the evidence now produced will be deemed sufficient - When Phebe Spencer made her declaration before the Court it was proved to the satisfaction of the Court that she was married at the time alleged, and certified accordingly - I particularly invite your attention tot he affidavit of William Fish, he fixes the time of her marriage by two events which places the time of his marriage beyond all question - It was after the evacuation of Newport by the British and before the dark day in 1780 - Both of these are historical facts - the British evacuated in Oct 1779 - Wm Fish is a very respectable citizen of Tiverton & wholly disinterested -

Will you be kind enough to attend to this claim & much oblige yours
sincerely & respectfully
Benja Cowell

Geo Knight
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I Margaret Hunter of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, a coloured person, of lawful age, being duly sworn, do testify and say, that I was well acquainted with David Spencer and his wife Phebe Spencer, Coloured persons of this Town, that were also called by the names of Domine and Howland - the said David's father was called Domine Spencer - said David and Phebe lived together many years and till his death as married people, and brought up a family of children. they were considered and respected by all their neighbors as husband and wife; I do not know the exact time when they were married, but it was as many as fifty years ago. I lived in the same house with them, for the space of two years, and that was forty four years ago; they had then been married some years and had several children. said David died more than thirty years ago, and his widow the said Phebe has of late years resided in Providence, in this State

Signed in my presence
Christopher S Allen

Margaret Hunter
x her mark


State of Rhode Island &c
Newport County [flourish bracket] ss.

Be it known that on the twentieth day of March 1840 before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, personally came Margaret Hunter abovenamed and subscribed and made oath to the truth of her aforegoing Deposition, and I further certify that said Margaret Hunter is a credible person.

Before me, Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
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I Margaret Manchester of Tiverton, County of Newport and State of Rhode Island of lawful age to testify, do depose and say, That I was very well acquainted with David Spencer of this town, a coloured man, and with his wife Phebe, they were more frequently called by the name of Domine than Spencer, and sometimes by the name of Howland, though I suppose Spencer to be their right name, for said David's father was named Domine Spencer - said David was Servant to or lived with a man of the name of Howland, and for that reason he was also be many called David Howland -

I did not see said David and Phebe married, but remember the time when it was said they were married, and it was before the dark day in 1780 - I am quite sure it was as early as in the year 1799, for I was married before that time, and I remember the said David and Phebe were married very near the same time but I do not perfectly recollect whether a little before or very soon afterwards - they ever afterwards till the death of said David lived together as other married people and were so esteemed by their neighbours and had several children - the said Phebe has of late years resided in Providence, the said David died a great many years ago

Signed in my presence
Joseph Cook

Margaret Manchester
x her mark


State of Rhode Island &c
Newport County [flourish bracket] ss.

Be it known that on this eighteenth day of March 1840 before he subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said County personally came Margaret Manchester and subscribed her foregoing Deposition and made oath to the truth of the same, And I further certify that said Margaret Manchester is a credible person

Before me,
Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
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I William Fish of Tiverton, County of Newport & State of Rhode Island of lawful age to testify being duly sworn, do testify and say, that I have before given my affidavit in relation to the marriage of David Spencer and Phebe Wanton. - but being again called upon to give additional facts, if i know any, do say, that I cannot add any thing in relation tot he marriage, for I did not see them married. I know they lived together as husband and wife till he death and had several children and they were considered to be married people by their neighbors, and I never heard an thing to the contrary - they lived near me in said Tiverton and I saw them frequently - The Magistrate that married them was Thomas Howland of this town, he was also a teacher of a school, and was boarding at my father's at the time he married them - he told me when they were to be married, and he afterwards told me he had married them. they were married in the first part of the winter. I think in December, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine [1779] - I am enabled to fix the time, from the circumstance, that it was about the time the British evacuated Newport, and it was previous to the dark day, which was in 1780 - I never knew any other David Spencer, than the one above named, and he also went by the names of David Howland and David Domine. I also knew the said David's father, and he was called Domine Spencer - the said David's wife, the afore named Phebe, was after her marriage called sometimes Phebe Spencer, sometimes Phebe Howland, and sometimes and perhaps most Phebe Domine, and the said David was mostly called David Domine by the whites. though he and his said wife Phebe liked best to be called Howland, thinking it the most respectable, for they valued themselves a good deal upon their respectability as coloured people.

William Fisk


State of Rhode Island &c
Newport County s.s. [flourish bracket] Be it known, that on the seventh day of October 1839, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for the said Coventry, personally came William Fish, and subscribed his above deposition and made oath to the truth of the same; and I further certify that said William Fish is a credible person.
Before me,
Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's office March 24, 1840

I Henry Bowen Secretary of said State and keeper of the Records and the Seal thereof Do hereby certify, that at the session of the General assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday of May last, Asa Gray was elected Justice of the Peace for the town of Tiverton in the County of Newport, for one year, and Commissioned accordingly: as appears of record

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said State at Providence, the day and year first above written.

Henry Bowen