Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,834, for Rueben Roberts, Rhode Island
Page 1

Service RI

Roberts, Rueben or Reubin (Col)  Number S 39834
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4,704
Rhode Island Roll
Rueben Roberts
private 4
Catp Arnold
R.I.
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 31st of March 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st of dec 1818 and sent to David [illegible]onnell Esq.
Judge Evidence R. Island
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 [illegible] $41.0
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 ollar 1819 48 "
$89 "
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818}

Continuance

[illegible] Sent to Benj Cowell Esq
11 July 1821 Providence R I 

Died
Sept 5, 1838
Page 3

Rueben Roberts,
private,
Rhode - Island line,
31st March, 1818.
The Judge will certify
that the applicant is in
indigent circumstanes
ready again [illegible] 

dn
David Howell, Esqr.
Judge,
Providence, Rh: Isld
recd. 20. May, 1818
transd. by Benja Cowell, clk
Page 4

To the Honorable David Howell Judge of the District Court of the United States for Rhode Island District 
respectfully represents - 
Rueben Roberts of Warwick in said District a (man of colour) that he enlisted as a private soldier in the Month of February 1777 in Capt Thomas Arnolds company and Col Christopher Greens regiment in the army of the United States, and in the Rhode Island line; in which he remained he continued five years three months ten days & was then regularly discharged that when he was discharged he belonged to Capt Donald Dexters company - Col Ch[illegible] regiment he would further represent that he is now in indigent circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country and owing to the late act of Congress passed March 18 1818 making provisions for such persons as himself -
Rhode Island District March 31, 1818,
Sworn to before David Howell
District Judge
To
The Hon. John C. Calhhoun Secretary of War.
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Rhode Island District
In Providence this 31st day of March 1818
I hereby certify that the Signature of the Judge & the seal of the District Court of the United States for said District are hereto affixed 
Witness
Benjamin Cowell
R.I. District

Rueben Roberts,
private,
Rhode Island line,
31st March, 1818.

The judge will certify that the applicant is in indigent circumstancy
[illegible] 
David Howell, Esq
Judge,
Providence, Rh. Isld.
recd. 20 May 1818
transd. by Benja.Cowell, Clk.
Page 6

[handwritten]

Reuben Roberts

The County in which the applicant resides should be stated by him in order to ascertain whether he has [illegible]
write the case [illegible]
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Providence Nov 20th 1820
I hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Reuben Roberts is subject to a lameness of his left leg arising from a fracture of the bone, which happened while in the services of his country as a soldier in revolutionary war and that leg occasionally becomes sore & disqualifies him from labour -

John Machin M.D.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRICT.
County of Kene Special Court of Common Pleas, July 7th A. D. 1820.
On this 7th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for said County Rueben  Roberts / a man of colour aged 58 years, residing in the town of Warwick 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: they he served as a private in Col. Greene's & Col. Olney's regiment of Rhode Island line 
upwards of five years
that he made a previous declaration on the 31st. day of March 1818, and that he has received a certificate for a pension, being No. 4704 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 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.
his mark X Reuben Roberts 

A SCHEDULE of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of Reuben Roberts viz one acre of land in said Warwick together with a small one story house unfinished thereon, 1 pig, 6 chairs, 2 tables, 6 knives & forks, 2 pots & 1 kettle, 1/2 dozen cups & saucers, 6 plates, 1 wisk. other than the above he has no property of any description except as above excepted. And the declarant further saith that he is a Labourer & works when he is able. but having his leg broken while in the Army - he has always been lame and unable to see but little work - he is often confined for six weeks together in consequence of said Misfortune that he is now involved in but that he now justly owes more than forty dollars that at this time of Life & in his indigent circumstances & under his infirmities should his pension be taken away he must expect on charity for support 
[illegible] has a wife of 58 years [illegilble] has no other family 
his mark X
Reuben Roberts
Sworn to and declared in Open Court on the 7th day of July 1820 
143-91
RHODE-ISLAND DISTRTRICT.
County  of Kent for Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas A.D. 1820
I [illegible] Mawney 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 forty three dollars and ninety one cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 4th day of August 1820
[illegible] Mawney Clerk of said Court
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June 8, 1933
BA-J/EEL
Rueben Roberts-S.39834
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 39834, based upon the military service of Rueben or Reuben Roberts, a man of color, in that war.

The date and place of birth of Rueben Roberts are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.

 He enlisted, place not stated, March 4, 1778, served in Captain Thomas Arnold's and Daniel J. Dexter' Companies, Colonels Christopher 
Greene and Jeremiah Olney's Rhode Island Regiment and was discharged June 15, 1783. It was stated that he had his feet frozen while in
the service, also had his leg broken. in consequence of which he was much disabled. 

|I gan service as given by Major Dexter as
it made exactly the length of time stated by him.|

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 31, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Warwick, Rhode Island. In 1820,
he stated that he was aged fifty-eight years.

In 1820, his wife, aged fifty-eight years, and several children were referred to: their names were not given and there are no further
family data.

He died September 5, 1838.

This history to be furnished
if ever called for.
It was written just to have a
record of negroes.
Page 10

I certify That it appears by the Regimental Book of  Occurrences, that the bearer
Reuban Roberts, to me well known inlisted on the seventh the day of March 1778 into 
the Regiment then commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene in the Rhode
Island Line, in the  continental establishment in capacity. of a  private
soldier; -That he faithfully served as such in said Regiment while commanded by
said Greene & afterwards by Colonel Jeremiah Olney. from the time of his
said inlistment untel the fifteenth day of June 1783-when he received a 
furlough, which on the  arrival of the  definitive Treaty  of Peace became a 
discharge from said Regiment.

[illegible] Dexter  Major & only surviving field officer of said Regiment

Providence April 13th 1818
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[handwritten]

Com
J. L. E
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Providence July 1821
Sir

I herewith again enclose the schedule of Reuben Roberts with the mistake corrected - I would also observe that this black man, is personally known to me & he has the reputation of being honest & industrious - rather more so, perhaps, than the blacks in general. I also take the liberty to observe in behalf of William Boswell whose schedule is now pending in the pension office, that I have conversed with several of his neighbors whom I personally know & respect relative to his situation - and from what I learn from them I have no hesitation in saying that he is a very worthy & poor man - with regard to his situation I also refer you to a deposition left by men in the pension office last winter & taken to be used on his schedule. I am respectfully yours,
Benj. Cowell
J.L. Edwards Esq.
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39834

INVALID.
File No.
39834
Rueben  Roberts
Pri Rev War 
Act: 18th March 18"
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 481

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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[handwritten]

John Colen Depose
Page 15

The deposition of John Cole of Warwick in the
County of Kent who being now in the 60th year  of
his age saith - that he is well acquainted with
Rueben Robberts of said Warwick a man of Colour &
formerly a soldier in the Revolutionary ARMY -this department is well acquainted with the present circumstances
of said Rueben & believes him now to be in very indigent circumstances  - this deponent further states that said Rueben has been 
rippled by having his feet very badly frozen while he belonged to the army
that, he has never had the routine use of his feet since
that he is now unable to do a days work & also has
a wife and a number of Children & has hardly a shelter
for their support -This deponent further states that
said Reuben has always had the reputation of an
honest man- that he has known him for the last forty years - 

John Cole

21 Nov Rhode Island District I certify that on this twenty first day of November 1818
personally appeared before me the above name John Cole
& made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition
by him subscribed  -
[illegible] Benjamin Cowell
Commissioner of Dis Court
Rhode Island District cr Nov 21 1018
I certify that I am acquainted with the above John
Cole 1I believe him to be a man to be believed under oath - I also certify that I am acquainted with the said Reuben Robberts  believe him now to be in very indigent circumstances & is also lame

Charles Lowe
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Rhode Island District. Providence 22 Nov __18.
I certify that Charles Low named in the other title of these papers is well known to me, and entitled to perfect credit.

Darrell Howell
District Judge.