Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21137, John Congdon, R.I.

Page 1

Service
RI
Congdon, John
S.21137

Page 2

RI 3011
Rhode Island
John Congdon

Washington in the state of Rhode Island
who was a Pr. Sp. Class in the company commanded by Captain Bates in the Regt. commanded by Col Logen (?) in the Rhode Island line for 9 months private, 9 months sergeant, 4 months lieutenant 

Inscribed on the roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 128 dollars 33 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of pension issued the 6th day of Sept. 1833 and sent D. I. Plareo (?)
Newport, Rhode Island

Arrears to the 4th Sept. [overwitten] $321.83
Semi-anl. allowance ending  March 34 - 64.17
$385.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D.D. Addison, Clerk
Book E Vol 30 Page 104

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act b. Africa 1808 from 4 Sept 1836 to 12 January 1839
Agt. notified 27 J [indecipherable]

Page 3

[? ?]
John Congdon's
J Hall

26.415

9 mos Private
9 " Sergeant
4 " Lieutenant
[?]

30
45
53.33
128 33
2
256 66
64 17
320 83

Hon D. I. Pearce
Newport R.I.

Page 4

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
County of Washington &c

On this 5 day of February 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas for said county now sitting, John Congdon a resident of Exeter in the county & State aforesaid aged 75 years in March 1832, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers [?] served as herein stated. In the years 1776 & 77 I volunteered in the militia service in the Town of Exeter aforesaid in the company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Bates, in Col. Dyer's regiment. I served eight months in them two years stationed in North Kingstown in the county aforesaid, in the capacity of orderly Seargeant. Besides this service I served on a [?] & other occasions several days at a time, making in this kind of service one month within this period of two years. In the month of May 1778 I was appointed Ensign in said company, but did not serve or take my engagement having enlisted in Capt. Benjamin West's company, Col. Tophams regiment in the States service. I served the full time for which I was enlisted being nine months and was then discharged. In June 1779 I was appointed Lieutenant in the first company of militia in Exeter aforesaid and served four months in said capacity during that year. The commission of Lieutenant has been lost. I have no written discharge, nor

Page 5

record of my age, all the documentary evidence I possess is hereto appended. I lived in Exeter at the time was I called into the service, have lived there since the revolutionary war, and now live there.
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.
John Congdon
Witn's Sam Helme Clk

We John Gardiner a clergyman residing in Exeter and Sylvester G Shearman residing in North Kingstown hereby certify that we are well acquainted John Congdon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Gardiner Elder
Sylvester G Shearman

Sworn to in Open Court
Witn's Sam'l Helme Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion After the investigation of the matter and After putting the [Interrogatries?] 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 John Gardiner who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of North Kingstown and that Sylvester G Shearman Esq. resideing in the Same Town are Credible Witnesses and that their Statement is Entitled to Credit And the Court further Certify that from their Knowledge and Examination of Johnathan Congdon and Samuel Tillinghast who

Page 6

have Subscribed to Depositions in this Case the Court Consider them Credible Witnesses and their Testimony contained in the preceding Depositions Entitled to Credit

I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common pleas and General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Washington do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Congdon for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this Twenty Sixth day of February AD 1833.
Sam'l Helme Cl'k

Page 7

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
[handwritten in top corner: "MMHF"?]

December 28, 1923

Rev. T. Tracy Walsh
York, South Carolina

Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 21137 it appears that John Congdon was born in March 1757 and while living in Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island, he enlisted and served as Orderly Sergeant nine months during 1776 and 1777 in Captain Jonathan Bates' Company, Colonel Charles Dyer's Rhode Island Regiment; was in General Spencer's Expedition.
He was elected Ensign on the first Wednesday in May 1778 and served nine months in captain Benjamin West's Company, Colonel Topham's Rhode Island Regiment.
He was appointed Lieutenant in June 1779 and served four months in Captain Daniel Tillinghast's Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 5, 1833 while a resident of Exeter, Rhode Is-

Page 8

land.
He died January 12, 1837 leaving children whose names are not stated, and the name of his wife is not given.
The enclosed histories are of the only soldiers named John Congdon of Rhode Island found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau. [brackets handwritten around this paragraph with note: "for this inquirer only"]

Respectfully,
[not signed]
Acting Commissioner.

Page 9

The Rev. T. Tracy Walsh
RECTOR
Church of the Good Shepherd
YORK, S.C.
Church of the Atonement
BLACKSBURG

November 12th, 1923

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Please inform me if you have records of pensions of
"John Congdon, sergeant, Captain Benjamin West's Company, Colonel John Tapham's Regiment, Rhode Island State Troops, engaged in the service of the United States for twelve months from March 16th, 1778. He enlisted June 5th, 1778 and his name appeard on company muster rolls, dated Tiverton, July 11th, September 13th, October 17th, Nov. 10th and Dec. 6th 1778 and Jan. 17th and Feb. 20th, 1779."
also,
[noted by hand next to paragraph: "N. 27856"] John Congdon, private, Captain Thomas Arnold's Company, Lippett's Rhode Island Regiment. His name appears on an abstract for September, 1776. His name also appears on an undated list of the men of that organization that crossed the North River, Dec. 4th, 1776".
I have the pension record of a John Congdon also in Lippett's Regiment, but in Captain Augustus Stanton's Company, and presume that he is a different person as he enlisted Jan, 1776 and served one year.
In these cases, I would like to have dates of marriage, death, and name of widow.
I would very much appreciate a reply to my inquiry of two weeks ago, concerning Nicholas Prince, Robert Vardelle and others.
Respectfully yours,
T. Tracy Walsh

[stamp: U. S. Pension Office, D,  Nov 13 1923]

Page 10

O. W. and N. Div.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,

[blank], 189[blank]

Respectfully returned. The data furnished does not identify claim.

Please return [blank] with this slip.

MEMORANDUM.
Claim No. [blank]
Certificate No. [blank]
Name of claimant, [blank]
Name of soldier, [blank]
Service, [blank]
Additional service, [blank]

If unable to furnish service, give names of officers of company.

Wm Lockrin
Commissioner.

14000 b -10 m

Page 11

21137
John Congdon

Feby 5. 1833
Exeter R. I. -'75

76,77 Exeter R. I
Capt Jonathan Bates
Col Dyer
[Pvt?] 8 Mos
No Kingston
Ord. Sgt

May 78.
Capt. Benj. West
Col Topham
9 mos

June 79 -
Capt
Col
Lt - 4 mos

[Wit?]
Jon'a Congdon
Samuel Tillinghast

Page 12

Revolution
21137
INVALID.
File No. 21,137
John Congdon
Lieut Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 77

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jany. 25 - 1902
Rev. L. F. Congdon. Batavia N. Y.

1923. Dec. 28 - [? ?] Rev. T. Tracy Walsh. [?]

Page 13

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
2'd Dec'r 1844

Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, the children of John Congdon a Pensioner on the Roll of the Providence R.I. Agency, at the rate of one hundred & twenty eight Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department from the 4 of Septemb. 1836 to the 12 Jan'y 1837.
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Page 14

State of New York
Madison County

Daniel Tillinghast of the town of Nelson County aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth & saith that John Congdon of the State of Rhode Island was an orderly sergeant in the first company of Militia of the town of Exeter County of Washington then call'd Kings County in the year 1776 said Company was Commanded by Jonathan Bates Stephen Whitman was Lieutenant & Daniel Tillinghast was Ensign Said company belonged to the second regiment commanded by Col. Charles Dyer that he served as orderly sergeant part of the time for the years 1776 and 1777 in Spencers Expedition which I [?] now remember & recollect in 1779, Daniel Tillinghast was appoint Captain of said Company. John Congdon was Lieutenant & George Bates was Ensign and I [?] recollect that John Congdon served as Lieutenant the whole time that the company was out that year that said company was Stationed on the west side of Naraganset Bay North & South of & in the Village of Wickford in the town of North Kingston that the amount of time he served during the above mentioned years was one fourth or one third of the time agreeable to an act of the Assembly of that State as this deponent [?] & this deponent further says that he has long been acquainted with the said John Congdon & knows him to be a man of good character as to truth & veracity & further this deponent saith not
Daniel Tillinghast

I certify that I am well acquainted with Daniel Tillinghast who has signed the above affidavit that he lives in the town of Nelson County of Madison State of New York that he is a creditable person & that his statements are entitled to full credit & belief that the said Daniel Tillinghast subscribed & swore to the above deposition before me this 17th day of September 1832
Otis P. Granger
Commissioner of Deeds

Page 15

State of New York
Madison County Clerk's Office

[&c?] I, Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said County, do certify that Otis P. Granger, before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, at the date of the same, a Commissioner to take the acknowledgment of Deeds &c - in and for the said County. And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office this 17th day of September 1832.
A. S. Sloan Clk

Page 16

Sam'l Tillinghast. Dep.

Page 17

I Samuel Tillinghast of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island aged 71 years hereby testify and say on solemn oath that I am well acquainted with John Congdon of said Exeter, that I know that said Congdon was attached to the company of Capt. Benjamin West Col. Tophams regiment. I served in said company of State troops with said Congdon and know that he served 9 months or more, stationed at Tiverton and on Rhode Island.- I believe Mr. Congdon to be 75 years of age and know that his character for truth and veracity is good
Samuel Tillinghast

Subscribed & Sworn to in Open Court Sep'r. 5. 1832
Witn's Sam'l Helme Clk

Page 18

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
Lemuel H. Arnold
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name "HENRY BOWEN" to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid duly elected and qualified according to law : Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three and of Independence the fifth-seventh.

Lemuel H.  Arnold

BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND
Henry Bowen Secry.

Page 19

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office Jan'y 19. AD 1833

I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State [holden?] on the first Wednesday in May one thousand seven hundred seventy eight John Congdon Jr was elected Ensign of the first Company of Militia in the town of Exeter in the County of Washington in said State for and until the first Wednesday of May then next: That at said May session the said Congdon was continued in said office until the next session of Assembly: That at June session one thousand seven hundred seventy nine the said John Congdon Jr was elected Lieutenant of said company for & until the first Wednesday of May after next. All which appears of record in their office.

Witness Henry Bowen Secry.

Page 20

Jon Congdon. Dep.

Page 21

I Jonathan Congdon of Exeter in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island &c, aged 71, hereby testify and say that I have served in the company of Capt. Jonathan Bates, Col. Dyer's regiment with John Congdon at least 3 months. I have served in the company of Capt. Benjamin West of State Troops Col. Topham's regiment with said Congdon at least 9 months. I know Mr. Congdon well and believe him to be 75 years of age - We were stationed at Tiverton and on Rhode Island in the last service mentioned in 1778. Mr. Congdon is a neighbor of mine and I know his reputation for truth and veracity to be good.

Jonathan Congdon

Subscribed & sworn to in Open Court Sep'r. 5. 1832
Wtn's Sam'l Helme Clk