Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38741, Prosper Gorton, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE                                          NUMBER
[handwritten] R.I.  Gorton, Prosper   S.38741 [/handwritten]

CONTENTS
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5474
Rhode Island
__________
Prosper Gorton
Capt Flagg   Private
Rhode Island Line [different script illegible initials]
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War,
_________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island - at the rate of -8- Dollars per month, to commence on the 8th of April 1818
_________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th of January 1819 and sent to Benjamin Colwell Esq. Rhode Island, Providence
_________________________________
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 = 4th = $39.20
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Mar 1819 = $48.
======
$87.20
======
[Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

[there is illegible faint writing at bottom of page]

[next page]
Died March 13, 1833

[faint writing sideways on page, some illegible]
--- Apl 2nd 1821 to B. Cowell, Esq.
Providence, Rhode Island
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Rhode Island District Ss
[apparently inserted into below line at crossed out area] 8 Jan^y. 1819
Be it remembered that ['on this Eighth'  crossed out] day of ['April 1818' is crossed out] came before me Prosper Gorton & made solemn oath to the truth of [illegible smudged word] truth of the declaration to which his mark is within affixed. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & have caused the seal of the District Court for said District to be hereto affixed, I further certify that I am satisfied that s^d prosper Gorton is a poor negro - I know not of any negro [illegible] as able to [illegible next 2 words] for his own Support - I have hinted this before and it is the  reason that I have not required the same proof from applicants of colors which have been required of others. 
David Howell
District Judge.
Page 4

Prosper Gorton
[in faint pencil] Correct
Discharge from 
Geo. Washington
[illegible under the word 'Admitted'] omits 
this rec'd-

Admitted

ready to be transmitted
Page 5

I Prosper Gorton [inserted above] (a man of colour) of Scituate in the District of Rhode Island on solemn oath do declare and say that in the month of June according to the best of my recollection At1777 I enlisted as a private soldier in Capt. Flaggs Company in Col. Christopher Greens regiment in the continental army of the United States in the Rhode Island line. In which regiment I continued untill the 15 June 1783 when I received a regular discharge signed by George Washington which discharge is here annexed - I further declare that I am now in reduced circumstances and stand in need of the assistance of my country for support.

Prosper Gorton
His Mark X

Rhode Island District

Be it remembered that on this Eighth day of April 1810 came before me Prosper Gorton & made solemn oath to the truth of the declaration to which his mark is above affixed - In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & have caused the seal of the District Court for said District to be hereto affixed --

David Howell
District Judge.

The signature of the Judge and the seal of the District Court of the United States are hereto affixed.

Witness Benjamin Cowell
Clk of D Court
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Prosper Gorton
5474

March  [?? 1819]

[circled] Con

B. Cowell, Esq.
Providence R.I.

23rd April 1821.
Page 7

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
Providence, sc.  District Court, Special Term, [handwritten] June Twelfth [handwritten] A.D. 1820
On this [handwritten] Twelfth [handwritten] day of [handwritten] June 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being at aged [handwritten] 68 years, residing in the town of [handwritten] Scituate in said [handwritten] District & County [handwritten] who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
[handwritten] That he served as a private in Col. Greene's and Col. Olney's regiments of the Rhode Island Line upwards of five years. [end handwritten] 
that he made a previous declaration on the [handwritten] eighth [end handwritten] day of [handwritten] April [end handwritten] 1818, and that he has received a certificate for a pension, being No. 5474.  And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property of securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Prosper Gorton
His Mark X

A SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of [handwritten] Prosper Gorton.
About 19 acres of very poor land in said Scituate, with a very old and leaky house, some furniture, very old, 6 old chairs, 1 Table, some knives and forks, 1 pot, 1 kettle and 1 Pig - Under these circumstances should his pension be taken away he must depend on charity for support
Prosper Gorton
His Mark X

He has a wife aged 57 who is lame & unable to do much work.

Rhode Island District    District Court
Sworn to and declared in open Court on the Twelfth day of June 1819 before David Howell District Judge

RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.

Clerk's Office of the District Court, A.D.182
I, [handwritten] Benjamin Cowell [printed] Clerk of [handwritten] said Court [printed] do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is [handwritten] one hundred fifty [printed] dollars and cents.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this [handwritten] Thirteenth [printed] day of [handwritten] June [printed] 1820.

[signature] Benjamin Cowell, Clerk of said Court.
$150
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Providence Nov 6th 1820-

I hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Prosper Gorton, on account of lameness of his legs & right shoulder, is unable to labour- 
John Mackie M.D.

Support

his
Prosper X Gorton
mark

He has a wife aged 57= who is lame & unable to do much work.-

Rhode Island District District Court 
Sworn to and declared in open Court on the Twelfth day of June 1820 before David Howell District Judge
RHODE ISLAND DISTRICT.
Clerk's Office of the District Court, A.D. 182
I, Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is one hundred fifty dollars and [blank] cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this Thirteenth day of June 18220
Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court. 
$150
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38741
Revy INVALID.                     om
File No. 38,741
Prosper Gorton
Pri Rev. War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 201
]Arrangement of 1870.]
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By His Excellency
George Washington, Esq.
General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America.
These are to Certify that the Bearer hereof
Prosper Gorton, Soldier
in the Rhode Island Regiment, having faithfully served the United States five years & three months
and being inlisted for the War only, is hereby DISCHARGED  from the American Army.
GIVEN at HEAD-QUARTERS the
15th June 1783
G. Washington

By HIS EXCELLENCY'S
Command,

J. Trumbull [illegible]

REGISTERED in the Books 
of the Regiment, Rhode Island
J. Greenman, Adjutant.

The above Prosper Gorton
has been honored with the BADGE OF MERIT  for three
Years fa[i]thful Service.
Jereh. Pheng, Lieut. Col. Comd
Rhode Island Regmt.
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HEAD-QUARTERS, June 15th 1783.
THE within CERTIFICATE shall not avail the Bearer as a Discharge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation there of shall be made, He is to be considered as being on Furlough. 
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Prosper Gorton

[stamped in a hexagonal box] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

Prosper Gorton
R.I. S38741