Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21859, for Benjamin Lawton, Rhode Island
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Service                                Number
RI        Lawton, Benjamin    S.21859
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SERVICE NUMBER
R.P. Lawton, Benjamin S. 21859
CONTENTS
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SERVICE NUMBER
R.P. Lawton, Benjamin S.21859
CONTENTS
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Service| |Number
R.P.|Lawton, Benjamin|S.21859
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Rhode Island
Benjamin Lawton
of Newport in the State of NI 27275
who was a Drummer in the Company commanded by Captain Dayton of the Reget commanded by Cols. Topham in the RI. line for 13 1/2 months
Drummer
---------
Inscribed on the Roll of RI. at the rate of 49 Dollars 50 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
___________
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of March 1834 and sent to Hono. D.J. Pearce H of Representa
_______________
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834   $148.50
Semi-anl allowance ending 4th Sep"  24.75
                                                        $173.25

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk
Book E  Vol.  2  Page 119
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State of Rhode Island
County of Newport         ss

On the seventeenth day of February AD. 1834 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Probate, now sitting in and for the town of Newport in the County and State aforesaid, Benjamin Lawton a resident in said Newport aged eighty two years, who being first sworn according to the law on his oath declares as follows, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
     In the summer of the year 1775 being then a resident of the said town of Newport, I volunteered to serve in a company of minutemen (as they  were called) commanded by Captain John Earl, the only officer, and served as a drummer in the said company for four months: during which time said company was quartered at the house of John Greene, about a mile & a half from the town of Newport.  Said company was raised or paid by the State & their duty was to watch the movements of the British ships Rose, Glasgow & Susan?, & to guard the shores against the coming of the enemy.  When ever the said ships or either of them moved up the River, as was often the case said company was ordered to march in the same direction.  During this period of my service the British marines landed on the Island of Prudence (in the Naragansett Bay) but were driven off by the Americans, after a slight skirmish in which said company and this applicant were engaged.   I cannot remember that said company
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was attached to any regiment.  In the latter part of the year 1775 & the first part of the year 1776 I volunteered as a drummer under Col. Henry Babcock, who was then commander on Rhode Island & where headquarters were at Middletown and when ever a detachment was ordered to march to any particular point I served as drummer and in this capacity did actual duty under the said Colonel for three months.
    Between the months of January and September in the year 1776 I was drafted three time for a month each time and served three months in a company commanded by Captain Trafton part of the time in a fort on Brenton's point & the rest of the time guarding the shores near Newport.  Whether the last mentioned company was militia or state troops  I am unable to remember, nor can I state whether it was attached to any regiment.  In this company I served both as private & musician, acting in either capacity as required.    The names of the officers of said company I have forgotten, except that of Capt. Trafton.
    In the year of 1776 I volunteered to serve as a drummer in a company commanded by Philip Moss of which Augustus Nausman? was Lieutenant, & Joseph Brendell Ensign.  In this company I served for two months, until the British took possession of Newport., said company being on duty every night to guard the town from any landing at night & to apprehend deserters from Headquarters at Middletown.   I believe this company was not attached to any regiment, but was, however, paid by the State.  My last service in this company was to aid in removing the arms & ammunition from the North Battery in Newport which were carried off to the mainland
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In 1780 I served as a substitute for Thomas Richardson in Captain Henry Dayton's company in the Rhode Island regiment of State troops commanded by Colonel Topham, of which Simeon Martin was Major and actually served in said company in the fortifications near Newport for six weeks doing duty as musician when required.  I can not remember the time of the year when this last service was performed, but my impression is it was in the Fall.  During my service under Col Babcock as already stated, I marched with a detachment from Headquarters to Boddington's point on Rhode Island and where a fire was opened, from a heavy gun on the shore, upon the British ship Rose & a store ship which were both driven up the River.  Sometime in the year 1776  I volunteered under Captain John Carr to attempt the capture of a sloop which was a tender belonging to Wallace's fleet.  Two boats were manned & we succeeded in capturing the sloop without much difficulty and brought her safely in to one of the wharves in Newport.  The crew of the tender were sent prisoners to Head Quarters in Middletown.  I do not recollect that there were any continental officers with the troops where I served.  Commodore Hopkins, General West, & Colonel Babcock are I think of the State Service,  commanded successively on Rhode Island previous to the British taking possession of Newport.   I never received any written discharge from the service nor have I any documentary evidence of my service herein stated but I refer to the annexed depositions of Peter Barker, & Nathaniel Smith, & the certificate of the Rev.  Michael Eddy & Colonel Benjamin Fry to sustain the facts herein set.
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forth, of my having served in the war of the Revolution.  In consequence of old age and bodily infirmities my memory is so far impaired that I cannot state fact with more particularity than I have done, but I served in the war of the Revolution for thirteen months and 6 and one half as a musician, & for such service I claim a pension.  I was born in Newport aforesaid on the sixteenth day of November A.D. 1751 as by records here produced in court appears & I now reside & always have resided in said Newport. I have until lately believed that as I served most of the time as a volunteer I had no claim for a pension on the government.  I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension (but the pension) [words in parentheses crossed out] or annuity except the present, and declare my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Benjamin Lawton
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid

We, Michael Eddy pastor of the First 
& believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Michael Eddy (other name hidden by ink blot)
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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 the Rev. Michael Eddy who has signed the annexed certificate is a clergy man resident in the town of Newport, and that Benjamin Fry who has also signed the same is a resident in said Newport & a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
 I Benjamin B Howland Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Lawton for a pension, and that William Ennis Esq whose certificate is attached to the Deposition hereto annexed is a Justice of the Peace with and for the County of Newport. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of February AD Eighteen hundred and Thirty four.
Benj B Howland Prob. Clerk
[seal]
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April 12, 1940

Mrs. Mary. E. L McGrath   BA-J/AWF
17 West Street                  Benjamin Lawton
Newport, Rhode Island     S. 21859

Dear Madam: 
       Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Benjamin Lawton who was born in 1751 and died in 1836, and of his father, George Lawton who was born in 1714. 
, 
     This office has no record of service rendered prior to the Revolutionary War, therefore no record of George Lawton who was born in 1714.  The Revolutionary War records have been searched for a George Lawton, and no record of any George Lawton has been found.

     The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 21859, based on service of Benjamin Lawton, in the Revolutionary War.  This is the record of the only Benjamin Lawton found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office.
     Benjamin Lawton was born November, in Newport, Rhode Island.  The names of his parents were not given.

     While a resident of Newport, Rhode Island, Benjamin Lawton enlisted in 1775, served four months as a drummer in Captain John Earl's Rhode Island company, and was in a skirmish with the British Marines on Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay.  He enlisted late
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in 1775, or early in 1776, served three months ^as drummer in Colonel Henry Babcock's Rhode Island regiment.  He served again in 1776, three months as private and musician in Captains Trafton's and John Carr's Rhode Island companies.  he volunteered in the fall of 1776, served two months as drummer in Captain Philip Moss' Rhode Island company.  He served in the fall of 1780, six weeks in Captain Henry Dayton's company, Colonel Topham's Rhode Island regiment.

     The soldier, Benjamin Lawton, was allowed a pension on his application executed February 17, 1834, at which time he was living in Newport, Rhode Island.

     The papers on file in this claim contain no discernible data in regard to the family of Benjamin Lawton.

    In order to obtain the date of past payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:
Benjamin Lawton
Certificate #27275
Issued March 19, 1834
Rate $49.50 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Rhode Island Agency.

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller 
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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 Left page [word "Revolution" written vertically on left side of document]
21859
INVALID

21859
Benjamin Lawton
Drummer Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 234

[Arrangement of 1870]

Right page
Oct. 28 - 1902
Jno H. Lawton - illegible 
[line]
1940 April 16
  illegible
Mary E. L. McGrath
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 40 Fountain Street
Providence, R.I.

March 20, 1940
RM-2-8
Mrs. Mary E. L. McGrath
17 West St. 
Newport, R.I.

Dear Madam:
     Reference is made to your letter of March 19, 1940 requesting information in regard to Benjamin Lawton, a Revolutionary soldier. 
     Kindly be advised that your communication has been referred to our Central Office at Washington D.C. for attention and appropriate action, inasmuch as this type case comes under the jurisdiction of that office. 
     We are returning herewith stamp enclosed by you.
         Very truly yours,
L.A. Normandin, M.D. 
Manager
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Veterans Administration
Form 3230
Rev. Jan.,1932
REFERENCE SLIP
Referred to-
CENTRAL OFFICE
For approval
attention
comment 
correction
follow-up
recommendation
report
To call me--see me
indicate changes
note and file
note and return
rewrite
send literature
When necessary to identify papers to which this form is attached, write subject, date, author, etc., here
Remarks: INQUIRY CONCERNING REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER.
Date 3/20/40 From PROVIDENCE, R.I.
U S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 15-320
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[circular stamp] PENSION D SEP 9 1902 U.S. OFFICE
[rectangular stamp] U.S. OLD WAR & NAVY 
SEP 10 1902
FILES
P.E.
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John K. Lawton      [a series of testimonials to 
                                his business]
Regular Collector
For Physician and Dentists in Boston
and Northern suburbs.
No. 24 Blossom Street, 
Chelsea, Mass., Sept. 6 1902

The Pension Department
Washington D.C.

To the Clerk in Charge.  R.I. Pension Roll.
     Dear Sir,  I am permitted to use the name of R.H. Tilley of Newport in asking for information of Benjamin Lawton of Newport who is recorded on the Revolutionary Pension Roll as "Drummer" Age 82, Mar 19,1834.  It is not clear to me whether he was in the regular Newport Company or the R.I. Continental Company.  As Benj. Lawton above mentioned was my father's father, you will appreciate my interest in the matter.
      Yours very truly
John K. Lawton
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[cover sheet]
[circular stamp]
3 
Received Mar 31 1940 
Mail Sub Div
Reader no. illegible
Vets Adm
[another stamp]
Received
Mar 20 1940
Mail Section
U. S. Veterans Bureau
Providence, R. I.
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March 19, 40
Commissioner Vets Bureau
Prov. R.I.
Dear Sir:
      Would you kindly let me know if you have in your files a revolutionary record for service of Benjamin Lawton (insertion: & George b. 1714) born (insertion "only) 1751 believed died 1836 
1st wife Mrs. Abigail Denham Price.
A son Robert Denham Lawton.
served under Capt. Chistefor Perry at Fort Adams in war of 1812.  if either Benajmin or his
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father George Lawton Born 1714 
married Hannah Biddle, April 18, 1742
If you have any record of Benjamin or George would you kindly let me know.  I was under the impression one was a drummer boy.  I may be wrong.  Benjamin was 25 years old in 1776.
Thanking you
I am Yours Truly,
Mrs. Mary E. Lawton McGrath
17 West St. 
Newport, R.I.
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29638
Benjamin Lawton
Newport
R.I.

Admi.
13 1/2 Musician
Cap Dayton Colo Topham
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I, Peleg Barker of Portsmouth in the state of Rhode Island a yeoman, aged seventy four years on solemn oath declare & say that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Lawton of Newport in said state  Baker, and that to my certain knowledge he served as a private in the war of the Revolution in Capt. Henry Dayton's company of Rhode Island State troop - but for how long a time I am unable to remember.
[signed] Peleg Barker

State of Rhode Island 
Newport sd Newport July 15, 1834--- on this day personally appeared before the undersigned, Peleg Barker, who being first duly sworn according to law, made the (following - crossed out) above statement, which was by me reduced to writing in his presence & by him subscribed in my presence.  The said Peleg is represented by persons well known to me, and whose statements I can rely to be a person of truth & veracity.

Wm. Ennis Justice Peace
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I, Nathaniel Smith of Newport in the State of Rhode Island, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States, on solemn oath declare and say that I have been well acquainted with Benjamin Lawton of said Newport for more than fifty years past and that I served with him the said Benjamin in Captn. Henry Dayton's company of Rhode Island State troops in the war of the Revolution but how long the sd Benjamin served in said company I am unable to remember.
[signed] Nathaniel Smith

State of Rhode Island 
Naupron  Newport July 15, 1834.  on this day formally appeared before the undersigned, Nathaniel Smith, who being first sworn according to law made the above statement which was by me reduced to writing in his presence & by him subscribed in my presence.  The said Nathaniel has been known by me for many years as a respectable person & his statement is entitled to credit.

Wm. Ennis
Justice of the Peace