Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 339, Caesar Babcock, R. I.

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R.I. Babcock, Caesar R339

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Martha Babcock of Hopkinton in the County of Washington State of Rhode Island, widow of the late Hezekiah Babcock of Hopkinton, aforeside, being duly cautioned and sworn. Testifies and says that she is in the Eighty first year of her age. And is well acquainted with Ceasar Babcock a man of colour now living in Newport R.I. and has known him for nearly Sixty five years past. Had said Ceaser was a slave to my said husband before the Revolutionary war and was manumitted about that time, and has always sustained a good moral character. And I do further say that Ceasar Babcock served as a solider in the Militia as a substitute for my said husband and went to the Island of Rhode Island with the Army commanded by General Sullivan to act against the British. but the names of the officers of the Company or Regiment is not now recollected by me, nor do I recollect how long time he was a soldier in actual service. 

Martha Babcock 

Washington fs. Charlestown December 16. 1834
Personally appeared Martha Babcock signer of the above and foregoing deposition and was duly engaged to the truth of the same. before me
Samuel Green Just Pece

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Caesar Babcock Hn. D.J. Pearce HR

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Caesar Babcock
H D.J. Pearce

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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 
Newport. County of Newport

On the second day of February, 1835. personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Court of Probate of the town of Newport. now sitting Ceaser Babcock a man of color, now a resident of Newport. in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged seventy seven years, who being first sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 

That alt the commencement of the Revolutionary war, he was a slave to Hezekiah Babcock Esq. a wealthy landholder of the town of Hopkinton, County of Washington, State of Rhode Island. and during the whole of said war he acted as a substitute for his said master in the militia of the town of Hopkinton and was in service on the following occasions: to [work]

In the years 1775 and 6 he served in the militia various tours of duty in guarding the shores of the Narragansett bay against the depredations of the enemys ships commanded by Wallis. The exact term of which service he cannot now state and in 1777 he was again in service on the shores of the Narragansett bay and more particularly at Tiverton the County of Newport in the army then and there. [collected] under the command of Gen. Spencer against against the British then in [pofesion] of the Island of Rhode Island and again in the year 1778 in the same duty with army then collecting under command of Gen. Sullivan which was at Tiverton, [anob] in the summer of that year was on the Island of Rhode Island, where in an action with the enemy he saw a drummer by the name of Card [...llide] by a shot in the breast, while verry near him [...do] another man wounded in the ankle. That the regiment in which he served was commanded by Col. [...yes] and the company was commanded he believes a part of the time by Cap. Cottrell and for a part the time by Captain [Wells]. That th whole amount of actual service, during these several campaigns, done

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by him, cannot be less than One year and four months and probably exceeded that time. At this length of time he cannot state with precision the exact length of each tour of duty separately. He has no written discharge or any other documents to which he can refer, nor has he been able to find any living witness who was in the same Companies with him altho' he has caused the most diligent inquiry to be made by Agents who have travelled for that purpose at considerable expence through many towns in the County of Washington to the western limits of this State, and by writing made letters of inquiry to persons who it was supposed might know or have heard of his services. The only results of which will be found in the depositions [herewrite] annexed. 

He has no records of his age and knows it only from the venerable widow of his former master, who stated him to be about four years younger than herself, as appears by her deposition annexed, That he has never applied for a pension before this, being ignorant that the provisions of that law extended to substitutes. 

He hereby relinquishes the every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that [?] is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State to his knowledge. 

Sworn and subscribed the day and years aforesaid 

Ceazer Babcock 

We Henry Bunwick a Clergyman residing in the Town of Newport, and Rober Rogers Esquiza residing in said Town of Newport certify that we are well acquainted with Ceaser Babcock, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven 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 this opinion. and further we are of opinion that he has always maintained a fairly character for truth and veracity.

Sworn, and subscribed the 
Day and Year aforesaid 

Henry Bunwick 
Robert Rogers 

And the said [bound] do hereby declare their opinion

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after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the interrogating prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and has served as he states:  and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Burdick who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the town of Newport and that Robert Rogers who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Newport is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit, on enquiry the Court are of opinion that  the belief of his services is general, and no doubts have ever existed upon the subject.  The Depositions of Matthew Stillman Minister of the Gospel and Christopher C Lewis Town Clerk, Martha Babcock, widow, Moses Barber Esquire; Ebenezer Smith:  Asa E Babcock and Isaac E  Babcock were produced by said Ceaser Babcock to the Court and read for the purpose of being appended to and confirming the statements in his Declaration, and the Court are of opinion that the said Asa E Babcock and Isaa E Babcock who deposed before the Court are persons of truth and veracity and that their statement is entitled to credit.                                     I Benjamin B. Howland Clerk of the Court of Probate, of Newport, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of Ceasar Babcock for a pension.                      In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this second day of February AD Eighteen hundred and thirty five. The words "No doubts that" were erased by me  Bley B Howland Probate Clerk

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Asa E Babcock of Newport County of Newport & State of Rhode Island age 31 years and son of Ceasar Babcock, On solemn oath says that he was born in Charlestown County of Washington and Sate aforesaid and resided in said County of Washington until the spring of the year 1831 and while he resided in said County of Washington he was intimately acquainted with Prince Bent of Hopkinton aforesaid an aged man and a revolutionary pensioner who died two years since.                                                                     This deponent well remembers conversing with said Prince Bent about three years since at which time said Prince Bent told the deponent that he had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was present at the invasion of the Island of Rhode Island in the army commanded by General Sullivan, and that the militia from Hopkinton met at South Kingstown and marched from thence and joined the army and that Ceasar Babcock a slave of Hezekiah Babcock Esq of Hopkinton was a soldier in the said Hopkinton militia at that time, and the said Prince Bent often saw the said Ceasar Babcock in the army on the Island of Rhode Island, that they where intimate friends and often marched in company and that he the said Prince Bent knew that Ceaser Babcock had served as a soldier in the time of the revolutionary war in the whole not less than sixteen months.
And this deponent further says that he has conversed many times with the said Prince Bent on the subject of revolutionary services in the whole not less than twenty different times in which he frequently mentioned that Ceaser Babcock with him in that time.
And this deponent further says that he has often heard in Hopkinton and the adjoining towns that Ceaser Babcock was a Soldier of the Revolution and he never heard it doubted by any one. And this deponent many years ago and before the mind of said Ceaser Babcock became enfeebled has often heard from his own mouth statements of his service in the army, corresponding in every particular with the statement of said Prince Bent, and more particularly that he was present at a skirmish with the enemy on Rhode Island when a drummer was killed by a shot in the breast and another man wounded in the ankle.  The name of the drummer was Card.
Asa Eldrieg Babcock
 Sworn and subscribed in open court before the Court of Probate Newport - February 2nd, 1835 Bley B Howland Probate Clerk

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Isaac E. Babcock of Newport, County of Newport, State of Rhode Island aged 37 years On solemn affirmation says that he was born in the town of Charlestown, County of Washington R.I. and resided there until the year 1824 when he removed to Newport aforesaid.
That he was well acquainted with Prince Bent of Hopkinton an aged man who died about two years since, that said deponent at various times has had conversation with said Prince Bent on the subject of his services as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war, and said Prince Bent often told his deponent that he knew Ceaser Babcock in the service as a soldier in the militia during the revolutionary war, and  knew that said Ceaser Babcock had served at various times for one year and four months.
The declaration of said Prince Bent as above stated, was made to this deponent in the town of Hopkinton about 12 years since. 
And this deponent when he lived in Charlestown more than eleven years ago, has heard his father Ceaser Babcock many different times tell of this services in the revolutionary war and his statements then [Illegible] with the declaration which he has this day made before the Court.  
Isaac E. Babcock
Sworn and subscribed in open Court before the Court of Probate Newport February 2nd 1835.  Bley B Howland Probate Clerk

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Rejected
Ceasar Babcock
Printed list of 1852 shows cause of suspension: "He did not serve in any regularly organized corps"

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Caesar Babcock 
R. 339

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claims, R. 339, based upon the military service of Caesar Babcock in that war. 

The date and place of birth of Caesar Babcock, a man of color, are not shown in the papers on file in the pension claim. 

He applied for pension on February 2, 1835, at which time he was aged seventy-seven years and resided in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, and stated that at the beginning of the Revolution he was the slave of Hezekiah Babcock, a wealthy land owner living at Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island: that he enlisted in 1775, and served in that year, in 1776 and in 1777, as a substitute for his master, on short tours, amounting to sixteen months in all, as a private in Captains Thomas Cottrell's and Wells' Companies, Colonel Noyes' Rhode Island Regiment; that his service consisted in guarding the shores of Narragansett Bay; and that he was in the Generals Spencer's and Sullivan's Rhode Island Expeditions and in the battle on Rhode Island. It was stated that he received his freedom about the time of the Revolutionary War. 

His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service of six months as was required by pension laws. 

He died February 17, 1836. 

In 1845, soldier's sons, Isaac El. Babcock and Asa Eldridg Bab-cock were aged respectively thirty-seven and thirty-one years; both were born in Charleston, Washington County, Rhode Island, where Isaac resided until 1824 and Asa until 1831, when they moved to New-port, Rhode Island, where they were then residing.

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32.683
Rhode Island
Ceasar Babcock
Suspended
339
Hon D J Pearce
H.R.

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Ceasar Babcock
additional evidence
Hr D.J.Pearce
HK

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Newport RI Apl 7th 1835
This is to Certify, that I the subscriber am personally acquainted with the two colored men, Isaac and Asa Babcock, whose affidavits relative to the claims of Ceasar Babcock for a pension as a revolutionary soldier, were forwarded with other documents to the Pension office, and after examination returned.
Being aware that the statements of "Negroes" are sometimes regarded with a degree of suspicion where their characters are not known, and supposing it very possible that the small degree of credit supposed to be due to Negro testimony, might have operated to great extent, in the rejection of Cesar Babcock's claim; confirmed,  as it appears to me, to be, by all the evidence which at this distance of time could reasonably be demanded, I have thought that a knowledge of the real characters of the said Asa and Isaac Babcock, might lead to a reconsideration of the case, and possibly to a favorable decision.
The said Isaac and Asa Babcock are both men of unblemished reputation, of excellent moral character, and of sincere and unaffected piety.  They are extensively known in this place, and are universally regarded as highly respectable, sober, and upright men. - They sustain an honorable standing as members of the church under my care, and I have no hesitation in saying that among the 400 members of that church, there are no individuals, whether white or black, to whose statements, I would yield a more implicit confidence than to those of the aforesaid Isaac and Asa Babcock.-
John Dowling
Pastor of the Baptist Church
Newport - R.I.

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We entirely concur with our Pastor in the Within Statement
Nathaniel Sweet Deacon 2nd Bapt Church
Sanford Bell

Newport 9th April '36
I have escamed the written certificate signed by the Revd John Dowling & fully concur therein.
Wm Vernon

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Ebenezar Smith of South Kingstown in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island on solemn affirmation saith he is seventy seven years of age; that he knew in the Revolutionary war Ceasar Babcock a man of color at that time of Hopkinton in the afore said county of Washington; and were remembered the said Ceasar at Boston [illegible] in said South Kingstown, guarding against the enemy then in a company of militia from said town of Hopkinton a period of one month in the spring of 1775, in Col Brown's Rgt, when this deponent served during the same period in Capt. Babcock Company of the militia in said South Kingstown; this deponent was also in the service at Tauton in the state of R Island in Capt Dyer's Company Col Tophan's or Toppin's Regt from some time in June 1777 a period of nine months [illegible] 1777, he remembered the said Ceasar Babcock then in the service [illegible] Spences Expedition in company of militia from said Hopkinton, a period he thinks of two months; this deponent also remembers the said Ceasar a period of one month or more in the service on the Island of R Island in the militia from said Hopkinton in Col Noyis Rgt in

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August and September 1778 - This deponent was in the service at the same time.  This deponent [illegible] understood [illegible] the time of the Revolution that the said Ceasar was a slave of Hezekiah Babcock Esquire of said Hopkinton. 
Ebenezar Smith
His Mark
[Illegible]
John I Bishop

State of Rhode Island Washington County SS Town of South Kingston this 18th day of Dec A.D 1834 - Personally appeared the above named deponent Ebenezar Smith, who before me gave & subscribed the [illegible] disposition  & was by me [illegible] duly confirmed according to law, I further certify that the said Smith is well known to me that he is a person of veracity that his testimony is entitled to credit.
John I Bishop Just Peace

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To The Hon. The Secretary of War
Hn DJ Pearce HR

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Newport R.I. April 7, 1836
To The Hon Secretary of War
Sir
The papers in the case of the application of Caesar Babcock for a pension which was returned from the Pension Office with the following reply "Sir, the papers of Caesar Babcock are herewith returned, From such vague and uncertain statements, it is impossible to determine whether he performed sufficient actual service, to bring him within the Act! He appears to be unable to furnish the detailed account of his Services required by the regulations.  Instead of supplying this defect by positive proof of service, various depositions shewing the statements of other negroes, in general terms as to his service, are furnished.  No claim can be allowed upon such testimony.  The actual service of the claimant must be specifically proved" are herewith inclosed, with such additional evidence as I trust, will amply satisfy the Department of the justice of his claim.
No doubts having ever been entertained in this region of his having been a soldier of the Revolution. The services of a Lawyer was not called for, and the preparation of the papers was committed to me as a friend of the family, which will account for any [illegible] of correctness in them.
From the Circular of the Department of War, I learn that the applicant is required " to produce the best evidence in his power." and "in the absence of any direct proof traditionary evidence is deemed very important."
No prospect of temporal gain could induce Caesar Babcock to testify to facts, of the truth of which, he was not positive, and his statement was so well sustained by other witnesses, that Judge Tophan remarked in Court (while the papers where being prepared) that no applicant had come before that Court, better sustained by evidence."
It may be proper for me to state that at the time the applicant made his declaration, his health was feeble, and gradually failing until the seventeenth of February last he closed his mortal life.
The deposition of Moses Barber Esq. M. Martha Babcock and Ebenezer Smith, who are persons of respectability and veracity, coroborate his declaration of services, for

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four months "or more."  For the remainder of the term, specified in the declaration, we must reply on traditionary evidence.  Isaac E Babcock and Asa E Babcock, who have given their depositions on that point are men of undoubted veracity, as will appear on the proceedings of the Court of Probate in this case as well as by certificates of W. Collecton Littlefield, Lieut. Govern Engs, William Vernon Esqr President of Newport Bank Revd. W. Dowling and the Deacons of his Church. any number of certificates to the same effect can be obtained.
The other paper was recently found amongst the old papers of the late Governor Collings of this town, and appears to be the General Orders of General Sullivan to his Army, at the eventful period of his expedition to this Island.  And is sent to shew the coincidence of the declaration of the Applicant, with the position of Noyes Regiment on that occasion (see the last page of the Orders)
Of the characters of Revd Mrssrs Burdick & Stillman W. Lewis, town clerk of Hopkinton and Col R. Rogers, Vice President of the State Society of Cincinnati, it would be superfluous for me to make any remarks.
It now only remains for me to express my hope that this case will receive from the Department, and impartial review, and that so honest and worthy a claim, will not be prejudiced by the many frauds which may have been practiced by others on the Government.  I would respectively refer to the Hon. W. Robbins of the Senate, and Mrssrs Pearse and Sprague of the House of Representatives for any information concerning myself.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedt Servant
Geo. C. Shaw

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We Matthew Stillman Pastor of the Sabbatarian Baptist Church in Hopkinton R.I. now residing in Hopkinton aforesaid, and Christopher C. Lewis Town Clerk of said Town of Hopkinton now residing in Hopkinton aforesaid hereby certify that we are, and for more than thirty years past have been well acquainted with Ceaser Babcock a man of color formerly of Hopkinton but now residing in Newport, an applicant for the benefit of an Act of Congress passed in 1832 "for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution" That we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur therein. and that we believe that he has always sustained a good moral character.
Hopkinton January 19th AD 1835
Matthew Stillman Minister of the Gospel
Christopher C. Lewis Town Clerk

Washington Court SS at Hopkinton January 19, 1835
Personally appeared Matthew Stillman and Christopher C. Lewis signers of the foregoing and where solemnly engaged to the truth of the same according to law.
by Rowland Babcock Justice Peace

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The Deposition of Moses Barber Esqr of Hopkinton in the County of Washington State of Rhode Island and Providence Planation after Being Duly Cautioned and Sworn Testify and Saith that he is in the 79th year of his age and that he lived in Hopkinton at the Commencement of the Revolutionary war and  has done evidence that he then knew Ceaser Babcock a colored man and a slave to Hesekiah Babcock of Hopkinton and  Couty and State aforesaid and further Testify that I was a soldier on Rhode island in Sullivans Expedition in Captain Thomas Cottrcels Company under Col Noys and while I was in the service I knew Ceaser Babcock to be in the service under Colonel Noys and whose Company I cannot recollect how long Ceaser Babcock was in the service I do not know and further testify that he Ceaser Babcock bore a good moral charracter.  Deposed this 26th day of November AD 1834  Moses Barber
Washington SS at Hopkinton Nov. 26th AD 1834
Personally appeared Moses Barber Esqr the Signer of the above deposition and was Duly Engaged to the truth of the same before me 
Joseph T. Barber Justice Peace

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Newport April 4th 1836

I William Littlefield, Collector of the District of Newport in the State of Rhode Island, do solemnly declare that I am well acquainted with Isaac E Babcock a respectable colored man who resides in my immidiate vicinity, that he has been frequently in my employ, that I have found him honest and correct in his dealings, and that his character [illegible] and his credibility as a witness are, as far as my knowledge extends, unimpeached.
Wm Littlefield

I have known the above nam'd Isaac E. Babcock as a respectable resident blackman for sev'ral years and entirely concur in the opinion as to his integrity express'd by the collector.
Geo Engo
Newport 5th Aprl 1836

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War Dept
Pension [illegible]
Apl 28 3le

Sir
I have the honor to return you the letter of M[illegible] R. & G.C., Shaw accompanying the papers of Ceaser Babcock and in reply to the state that they appear to have misconceived the character of the objections with which the papers were returned upon the first examination. The act of 7 June '32 provides a prorata pension wbi computed by the amount & grade of actual service in field or garrison in some military corps, duly called ent - embodied & organized agreably to the rules & articles of war Hence the necessity of adjudicating each item of service to be taken into its computation  - In order to do this, the regulations require that each term of service should be seperately & distinctly set forth as to period, length & grade - names of officers - where marched or stationed [illegible] This was not done by the claimant in his life and the only mode now left to

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supply the defect must be found in the specification of witneses - unless the witneses can of their personal knowledge furnish the specifications required this claim is not  [illegible] under the act  The R Island militia service was for very short terms sometimes 15 day's at others 1 mo The vague & uncertain statements about guarding Narrangansett Bay, can not be recd as allegations of actual service in an embodied corps under the discipline of military organization. It was probably the vigilance of the inhabitants rendered necesary by their juntaposition to the enemy - The terms of service at Tiverton & on the island of R. Island which he asserts in general terms would not appear to have exceeded 4 mo in the agregate - But it is not necessary to pursue the enquiry into the merits of the claim before its essential features have been made and agreeably to the rules, a [illegible] of which is herewith enclosed.

Hon D.J. Pearce
Ho. Rep. 

Rec Vol 32
Page 420

Hon [Illegible]
Aprl. 28 1836
O.C

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War Department
Pension Office
May 16, 1836

Sir
My attention On the 20th of March 1835 I had the honor to address to you a letter communicating to you information of the decission of the Department unfavourable to the claim of Caesar Babcock late of Rhode Isand & an applicant for a penison under the Act of 7 June 1832. That letter was drawn up by a clerk in this office then entrusted with the examination of and correspondence related to claims of that description and received my signature without a particular attention to its contents or notice of the phraseology adopted.  My attention having been recently drawn to the letter above mentioned.  I find on examination that it contains one paragraph which may be liable to miscontruction and of which justice to the department requires some explanation. It is as following " Instead of supplying this defect by positive proof of "service, various depositions, shewing the statement of other negroes, in general terms as to his service ies furnished. No claim can "be allowed upon such testimony.  The actual service of the "claimant must be specifically proved."
There is in the language above quoted a want of perspecuity which on slight attention might lead to a conclusion that colored persons are not admitted in this office as competent witnesses and that the depositions alluded to are rejected because they proceed from colored persons. Such an inference however would be inconsistent with the fact and contrary to the intention of the writer of the

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letter. The fact is that the testimony of colored persons is received in this office upon the same principles that apply to testimony from other sources and subject to the same general rules of the Law of evidence.  The objections to the depositions, intended to be state[illegible] was the generality of the statements and such a deficiency in the details as left the Department without the means of satisfactorily determining the amount and character of the service rendered by the claimant; and I am induced to believe that on a careful perusal of the paragraph in connixion with the content you will be satisfied that such is its true purport.

[illegible]

Hon Dutee J Pearce
House of Representatives

D J Pearce 
16 May 1836

Rec vol 32
Page 426

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Copy

Extract from letter to Hon. D.J. Pearce

War Dept.
Pen. Off
30 March '37

The case of Caser Babcock has been carefully reviewed and it is wholly impracticable to form a definite and satisfactory opinion as to the amt, of his service.  His service is alleged to have been rendered as the substitute of his master and his mistress's deposition furnishes no ground for an inference that he served as much as 6 mos. nor is such an inference warranted by his own narrative altho he makes a general estimate of 16 months.  Referring you to my letter of 28 April, 1836, I would respectfully reiterate the call for the necessary compliance with the regulations.