Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,300, Ephraim Hopkins, R.I.
Page 1

Service
R. I. 

Hopkins, Ephraim

Number
S.21,300
Page 2

[illegible]
Rhode Island

Ephraim Hopkins
of Providence in the State of R. I. 
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain [illegible] of the Reg't commanded
by Col. [illegible] in the R. Island
line for 13 months

Inscribed on the Roll of R Island
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Sept
[illegible] and [illegible]
[illegible] Providence RI

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833  $108.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 [illegible]  21.67
$130.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by [illegible] Addison Clerk,
Book [illegible]  Vol. 2  Page 112
Page 3

[illegible]
Ephraim Hopkins
R I

Private 13 months

5.11.12. [illegible]
July 17  1833

P. 425  4333
2
8666
21.67
108.33

[illegible] Cowell
Providence
R I
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Ephraim Hopkins
[illegible] of Providence in the State of R I
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge? [illegible]
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 83
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[column headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

April 1777 [illegible], ... years 9 months ... days, As a private, Cap Kimball Col [illegible] 
Feb. 1776 ..., ... years [illegible] months ... days, As a private, Cap Sheldon Col Sherborn
Octo ... 1777 drafted, ... years 1 months ... days, As a private, Cap Smith Col Brown
1777 drafted, ... years 1 months ... days, As a private, Cap Howard Col Colswell
Aug ... 1778 drafted, ... years 1 months ... days, As a private, Cap Smith Col Brown

5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Gloucester R I.
7. In his statement supported by living witness, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? One living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached [illegible] to the regulation

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

George Taylor
Examining Clerk
Page 5

Ephraim Hopkins
H.
227
Page 6

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Rhode-Island District, sc. [illegible] Term 1832
County of Providence
On this seventh day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a [crossed out] District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session -- Ephraim Hopkins a resident of Scituate in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 83 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.
That he was born March 2nd 1749 in Gloucester Rhode Island
and lived there when he entered the Service and [illegible] the
[illegible] has resided part of the time in Foster but now in 
Scituate -- has a [illegible] of his age at home
and the applicant further states that in April 1775 he
enlisted into a company of Minute Men for nine months
as a private under Cap Stephen Kimball & Lieut Jonathan
Smith & in Col Hitchcocks regiment and was stationed
at Boston and the vicinity -- was discharged in Jan 1776
and the applicant further states that in February 1776
he belonged to a company of Minute Men under Cap Stephen 
Sheldon & in Col Sherborne regiment and was stationed
in Rhode Island one month
and the applicant further states that in October 1777
during Spencers expedition he was he was drafted for one month
in the militia in Cap Coomer Smith company & Col Chad
Browns regiment ...
and the applicant further states that in the winter of
1777 & 8 he was drafted for one month in the militia
in Capt Howards company & Col Colwells regiment
and was stationed at Bristol
and the applicant further states that in August 
1778 during Sullivans expedition he was drafted in the 
militia for one month in Cap Smiths company
and Col Browns regiment
in all the above services he was a private and was
honourably discharged - but has no documentary
evidence
Page 7

in Capt Howards company & Col Colwells regiment
and was stationed at Bristol
and the applicant further states that in August 
1778 during Sullivans expedition he was drafted in the 
militia for one month in Cap Smiths company
and Col Browns regiment
in all the above services he was a private and was
honourably discharged - but has no documentary 
evidence

He hereby relinquishes 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.  Ephraim [illegible] Hopkins
[illegible] B Cowell Clk Mark

We, [——] 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.

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 Joseph [illegible] testified for the applicant is a resident in the town of [illegible] Rhode Island and is a credible person, and that his 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 Ephraim Hopkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 29 day of December [illegible] 1832
Benja Cowell Clk
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Revolution

21300
INVALID.

File No. 21,300
Ephraim Hopkins
Pre Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 9

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, purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of said Calvin Brown

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of said Court, at Providence, this 23rd day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two

Wm R Watson
Page 10

Joseph Tucker of Foster in the County
of Providence and State of Rhode Island of [illegible]
[illegible] and engaged [illegible] to town to testify [illegible]
 that I know of Ephraim Hopkins being in 
Spencers expedition during the Revolutionary War one
month and I also know of his being in Sullivan's
expedition on Rhode Island one month and I know of
his being in the [illegible] at Bristol one month in
said war.
Joseph Tucker
His X Mark

State of Rhode Island [illegible]
Providence [illegible] Foster August [illegible] 1832
Personally came Joseph Tucker & who [illegible] to the above
deposition and made oath to the truth of the same
[illegible] Justice Deere
Page 11

Jospeh Tuckier
Deposition
Page 12

22176
Ephraim Hopkins

objections [illegible]
supplemented deposition
[illegible]

B Cowell [illegible]
Providence R I
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ephraim Hopkins, which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration 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 of 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, is language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No  He must [illegible] each particular [illegible] duty performed by him as a minute man, the length of the same, when & where performed & the names of all the officers under whom he served
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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2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting this age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative 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 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 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 so answered? Yes

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 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 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 experiences 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.  his form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the services 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 oath 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.
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And now on this 26th day of July th 1833
Ephraim Hopkins maketh & says
In explanation of his declaration made August
7th 1832 in Court – viz – said Ephraim
declares & says that when he enlisted in Capt
Kimballs company & Col. Hitchcocks regiment
in April 1775. he enlisted to serve all the
time in actual service & he solemnly avers
he did serve all the time from said April
until January 1776 & was stationed with the
Army near Boston & was then honorably dis-
charged said Company was not a company of
“Minute Men” but a company in actual service
It was erroneously stated in his said declaration
that it was company of “Minute Men” –
His next service was in a Company of Minute
Men as stated, was in Col Thabarnes regiment
In this Company he served one month and
was stationed on Rhode Island –
His next service was in Spencer Expedition
in October or November 1777 one month as
stated – In the winter following either in Decem
ber 1777 or January 1778 he served another month
as stated in Col Colwells regiment & was stationed
at Bristol – He then served one month
Page 17

in Sullivans Expedition in August 1778.
In all the services aforesaid he was a private
& performed all the duties incumbent upon
him in that capacity –
And he further says that he served thirteen
Months in all as a private for which he claims
a pension when in Hitchcocks regiment
and in Kimballs regiment company, Jonathan Smith
was Lieutenant in the company & one Nathan
Olney was first Segeant 
			Ephraim Hopkins [sig]

Rhode Island District
	In [illegible] July 26 1833
Sworn to before me – Benj’m Cowell
		           Commissioner Dist Court
		    		RI Dist

[seal affixed]
Page 18

State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

Providence sc.
I, [crossed out: WILLIAM R. [illegible]] [handwritten] Dexter Randall, Clerk of the Court pf Common Pleas within and for 
the County of Providence, in said State, do hereby certify that [handwritten] William Potter
------------------- 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, purporting [r in purporting added in handwriting with a ^] to be
his, [added in handwriting with a ^] is according to the evidence adduced to me [back to typed print] in the proper hand writing of said [handwritten name] William Potter ----

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

[signature] Dexter Randall Clerk
Page 19

I Jonathan Smith of [illegible] on oath
do testify and say that I am well acquainted 
with Ephraim Hopkins of [illegible]
an applicant for a pension I remember
perfectly well that we were together in
Col. Hitchcocks Regiment in the year 1775
at Boston. [Illegible] Hopkins was a private
in the same Company in which I was a 
Lieutenant - we were together from April
1775 to the end of the year. about nine 
months -  [signed in a different hand] Jonathan Smith

Please [illegible] the [illegible] after July 27th 1833
Personally appear or [illegible] the above
named Jonathan Smith & made oath to 
the truth of the above, and I Jonathan 
certify said Jonathan is well known 
to me and is a credible witness - 
Wm Potter [illegible]