Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39874, Guy Watson, R I
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(3-1776)
SERVICE       NUMBER 

RI

Watson, Guy       S.39874


_________________________________
Contents
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                        9908
                Rhode - Island.
==============================
                     Guy Watson,
of Wash'n Co: in the state of R. Island line, for 
who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Greene, of the R. Island line, for
the term of six years.
==============================
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 18, of July, 1818
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 27. of April '19 and sent to Amos Cross, judge Westerly, Washington Co, R.I.
==============================
Arrears to 4th of March, 1819. [illegible][crossout]
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4. Sept]              48  "
7 mo's  18./31.}                 1819         ====== [the sum $78.32 is crossed out]         $.78.32

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

Invalid pensioner
R.I roll, a $."4./ mo:
Differ between [illegible] $15./mo
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Gut Watson
9-908

Sept. 1889

[illegible]
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State of Rhode-Island and Providence-Plantations. 
Washington, sc - Court of Common Pleas, Special 
Term, A.D. 1820
ON this Sixth day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. Guy Watson aged Sixty Three Years residing in the Town of South Kingstown in said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: - that he Enlisted into the Regiment Commanded by Col. Greene and afterwards into a Regiment Commanded by Col. Olney in the service of the United States in which he continued to serve for five years and seven months when he was Honorably discharged. 
That he made a previous Declaration on the Eighteenth Day of July 1818, and that he has received a Certificate for a Pension, being No. 9.908 - And in pursuance of the Aet of Congress, passed May 1st, 1820, I do solemaly swear, That I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; 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 18th day of March, 1818; And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or 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. 
Guy his X Mark Watson 

A Schedule of Property and Income, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of 
Guy Watson (Vin) 1 hog. 2 Old Iron potts 1 Tea Kettle 6 Old Chairs 2 Tables 3 Chests 6 Large plates 6 Small plates 6 cups and Saucers 5 bowls 6 Knives and forks 1 Old Hoe 2 Old Axes 1 Pair Shovel 2 Tongs 6 Iron Spoons 
That he is in Indigent Circumstances a Labourer by Profession but is not able to do much work and is Supported by his Pension which if withdrawn will throw him on Publick or Private Charity for Support. 
Guy his X Mark Watson 

Sworn to and declared, on the Sixth day of July 1820 before said Court 
Witness Sam Helme CLK of Court

Washington, sc. Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas. A.D. 1820

I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island. &c. Do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Scedule opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is 
Inconsiderable *strikethrough* 
Sevin Dollars and Sixty Five Cents - Cents 
In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 
Sixth Day of July 1820  
Sam Helme Clerk of said Court. 
$7.65
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I Guy Watson of South KIngston in the County of Washington in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Labourer a Man of Colour and an invalid Pensioner on Solemn Oath do testify & say that in the [illegible] Revolutionary War in the year 1777 according to the best of my recollection.  I enlisted a private in the Continental Army under Capt Elijah Lewis Col Christopher Greens Regiment and served in the army until the conclusion of ["the" is inserted] the Peace with Great Britain in 1783.  I served about five years & four Months and was discharged at Albany  and since I was placed on the Pension List I have lost my discharge  I further testify that I have no Estate Real of Personal and stand in need of assistance from my Country for Support  That I have no means of subsistance but my Pension and some times I am able to Labour which I cheerfully perform
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And upon my being [the word "placed" is inserted] placed on the new pension List agreeably to an act of Congress Entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & naval services of the united states in the Revolutionary war  I hereby relinquish all my Right in future to ["my" is crossed out and rewritten] my old Pension          his
                          [Signature] Guy  X  Watson
                                                 mark
Witness
[Signature] Amos Cross

State of Rhode Island Sc
Washington County Sc
                             At Westerly on the 18th Day of July 1818  Personally appeared Guy Watson the subscriber to the foregoing Declaration and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same
Before me [Signature] Amos Cross. C.J.C.C. 
                                     Pleas
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I hereby Certify that Guy Watson (a man of Colour) the Subscriber to the preceding Declaration  Is advanced in years and is infirm and who does not possess any visible property (except the pension he has derived from Government), [the following "referred to in the foregoing Declaration" is inserted next] referred to in the foregoing Declaration who appears to be in indigent circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support

Given at Westerly this 10th Day of July 1818
[Signature] Amos Cross C.J.C.C. Pleas

                      State of Rhode Island [illegible]
Washington County Sc} Clerks Office Court Com. Pleas
     I certify that the Honible Amos Cross Esq. whose signature is hereto affixed is Chief Justice of the Court aforesaid legally chooseth & qualified as the Law requires ad that the Seal herein impressed is the true Seal of s' Court
              [Signature] Wilm' Sam Helme Clerk
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I William Potter of South Kingston in the County of Washington in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations do testify & say that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, I was sustained in the office of Captain in Col. Israel Angell's Regiment in the Continental Army, in the service of the United States, and was personally knowing that Guy Watson of South Kingston a foresaid a Man of Colour, was a Soldier in Captain Elijah Lewis's Company in Col Christopher Greene's Regiment, he was enlisted during the War,  I remained with the Army two years after I first said the said Guy Watson in the service of the United States, during which Time I frequently saw the said Guy on Duty.  I always understood that he was a good soldier, and served till the Conclusion of the revolutionary War. & that he obtained a Pension in Consequence of an Injury rec'd in the Service of the United states.
I have been acquainted with him ever since
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the Conclusion of the Peace of 1783 with Great Britain, know him to be in indigent Circumstances & believe He needs the Assistance of his Country for Support, he having no other Property than his Pension, & no further Means of Support other than he can sometimes perform some Labor.  I suppose him to be more that sixty  years of age  He informs me that he is sixty two.
                              [Signature]  William Potter

State of Rhode Island &c.
County of Washington Sc.
 At South Kingston in said County of Washington on the twenty seventh Day of July, in the year one thousand eight hundred & eighteen in his proper Person, came before me Levi Totten one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, William Potter, Subscribes to the preceding affidavit and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the same

Witness [Signature] Levi Totten Just. [illegible]
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I Timothy Peckham Jur. of South Kingstown in the County of Washington in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations on Solemn Oath do testify and say that I have been acquainted with Guy Watson of South Kingstown aforesaid a Man of Colour nearly every year since the year 1783.  He is now poor having no Property except a Pension from the Government of the United States, and no other Means of support except that he can & does perform some Labor.  I suppose him more than sixty years of age.   
                      [Signature] Timothy Peckham Jr'


State of Rhode Island &c.
County of Washington Sc.
     At South Kingston in said County of Washington, on the twenty seventh Day of July, in the year one thousand,eight hundred, & eighteen, in his Proper came before me, Levi Totten, one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace in and throughout said County, Timothy Peckham Jur.  Subscriber to the preceding affidavit and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the same
Witness [Signature] Levi Totten  Justurn Pacis
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[The following phrase is crossed out] State of Rhode Island
[crossed out] War

I hereby Certify that I am Personally acquainted with Captain William Potter & Timothy Peckham Jr the [crossout] subscribers hereto the preceding affidavits and that they are both men of Credibility & respected for their truth & veracity
              Given at Westerly in the County of Washington on the Third Day of August in the year one thousand Eight Hundred & Eighteen
[Signature] Amos Cross C.J.C.C.Pleas

[written vertically at the bottom of the page]
Guy Watson (Colored Man)
Private
Col Greens Reg't
[illegible] line
1777 - War
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Gut Watson, priv.
Washington County,
Rhode - Island, 6 years,
18 July, 1818,

Invalid pensioner
R. Island roll,
$:  4.- /mo.

Amos Cross, Judge,
Westerly,
Washington County
R. Island.
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I, Guy Watson of South Kingston in the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Laborer a Man of Colour, and an invalid Pensioner in Addition to my former Declaration given on the eighteenth Day of July AD 1818, on solemn Oath do testify & say, that I enlisted & served in the Rhode Island Line on the Continental Establishment & that most of the Time served in General Washington's Army.  At one Time I was under Command of General Sullivan afterwards with Gen. Washington
                                               his
                       [Signature] Guy  X  Watson
                                              mark

Witness [Signature} Levi Totten
State of Rhode Island &c}
County of Washington Sc}
                            At South Kingston in said 
                            County of Washington on the 
                            twenty sixth Day of March, 
                            1819.  Guy Watson 
                            Subscriber to the above 
                            Declaration, made Solemn 
                            Oath to the Truth of the same
                            Before [Signature] Levi Totten  
                                                    Just. Peace
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I William Potter of South KIngston in the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, in addition to my former Declaration given on the twenty seventh Day of July AD 1818, respecting Guy Watson, do further testify and say that during my Service in the Revolutionary Army, I served in the Rhode Island Line & in General Washington's Army, and ["most of the time" is inserted from above] most of the time Guy Watson served in the same Line & in the same Army. during the same Time I was in the Service of the United States as stated in my former Declaration
                           [Signature] William Potter

State of Rhode Island &c.}
County of Washington Sc}
At South Kingston in the County of Washington aforesaid on the twentieth Day of March, in the year, one thousand eight hundred & nineteen, in his proper Person came William Potter the above Deponent and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the above Declaration by him subscribed.
Before [Signature]  Levi Totten Justurn Pacis
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Watson, Guy 

R.I. S. 39874
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[This document is purposely transcribed as typed using the letter f in place of s]

The Committee appointed by the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Rhode Ifland, in Conformity to an Ordinance of Congrefs, paffed on the 7th Day of June, 1785, for examining the Claims of all Officers, Soldiers, and Seamen (Refident with faid State) who have been difabled in the Service of the United States, do hereby Certify, That, upon Examination of ---
Guy Watson private an Invalid, 
it appears, that the faid Guy 
was fo far difabled, while in Service of the United States, as to entitle him (in future) to receive a Penfion of Two & half Dollars, per Month, during his Life, as a full Compenfation for his Difability and Suffering, while in the Service of the United States.

        Given under our Hands, at Providence, this 23" day February  1786
                 [Signature] Paul Allen }  Committee
                 [Signature] Jeret. Olney}
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Wm. Peckham Jr.
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At a Court of Probate held at South Kingston Nov. 13, th 1815
Note.  That William Peckham Jr. [illegible] and he is hereby appointed Guardian to the person and property of Guy Watson ( a Black man) he giving Bond in the Sum of one thousand dollars with John B Dockray J. and William Peckham Sureties This appointment at the inquest of Said Guy
Clerk's office Court of Probate South Kingston 31st July. 1818
I Certify the above to be a true copy from the record
[Signature] Silas Brown, Probate Clerk

S. Kingston 31st}
July AD 1818     }
           I hereby Certify the William Peckham Jr. has duly given Bond assurable to the Above Note.  and is at this Time Guard'n to Said Guy Watson
[Signature] Silas Brown, Pro Clerk
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                                   39874
                                 INVALID
                             Revy
                                ______________
File No.    39,874
             Guy Watson
          Priv    Rev   War
                                  _______________


Act: 18 March 18"
Index;--Vol.3,       Page 554

                     [Arrangement of 1870]
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[This page appears to be blank]
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old case

[the remainder of this page is written vertically on the page]

Westerly April 5


Hon. J.C.Calhoun Esqr
Secretary of War
Washington
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Westerly SS  April 5th 1819

Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Esqr.
         Sir the Papers Containing the Evidence in Support of Guy Watson's claim for a Pension from the United States was received [illegible five Days past. and the addition required for further evidence relative to the Line in which he served is added to the former Documents and  herewith transmitted to you,  in full confidence that a Certificate for his Pension will be forwarded, with as little Delay as possible.  I shall Expect that he will be entitled to Pay from the time that Evidence was made of his being Intitled  to a Pension.   from the U.S. and the Relinquishment of his former Pension which was on the 18th Day of July 1818, all which is respectfully submitted for your Consideration
Respectfully yours,
[illegible] [Signature]  Wm Peckham , Guardian