Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,196, Lemuel Field, R.I.

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RI  Field, Lemuel, S. 21.196

[bottom left center of page has illegible faded writing]

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21.563
Rhode Island
Lemuel Field of Providence in the State of R. I. who was a Sgt Ensign in the Company commanded by Captain Snow of the Regt commanded by Col. Fenner in the Rho Island line for 20 months Sergeant 
       4     "        Ensign

Inscribed on the Roll of Rho Island at the rate of 40 - Dollars - 00 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Sept 1833 and Lieut M  Benjn Cowell Providence R. I.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $350.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 - 70.00
                                                   $420.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book E   Vol. 2d  Page 109

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United States of America
Rhode Island District [illegible]
County of Providence

On this the 28 day of May AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court being a special District Court of the United States within & for said District now in session Lemuel Field of the City of Providence in said County aged 83 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 viz that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - 

He was born in Providence Rhode Island in the year 1750 on the 9th of January.  his birth is recorded no where as he knows Acct in the Family Bible where it is recorded.  he lived in said Providence when he was called into the service and since the Revolutionary War he has always lived in said Providence where he now lives  And this applicant further says that in the year 1775, he belonged to an Independent Company of Light Infantry under the Command of Capt John Mathewson, with the rank of Colonel. - He was a

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private in said Company at first & afterwards Sergeant & did duty therein until May 6th 1777 when he was detached by order of General Spencer, then Commander in Rhode Island to make canteens for the army.  The order detaching him is hereto annexed; he continued to make canteens for six months following ending November without intermission. & from that time to June 1780. he continued all the time to do duty in said Company [word crossed out] in making canteens and going on all occasions of alarms & invasions by the enemy and garding the shores of Nagansett Bay.

And this applicant further says that in June 1780, he received a Commission as Ensign in Capt Snows Company & Col. Richard Fenners Regiment of Militia a part of said Commission is hereunto annexed having the date & the name of "Henry Ward Secretary" the rest being lost.  He continued to hold this Commission untill the end of the War & was in actual service under it from said June 1780. to June 1782 four months at least for which he claims a

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pension - And this applicant further says that when said Company [text crossed out] commanded by Capt Snow who succeeded Capt Mathewson went in Rhode Island per Sullivans Expedition against the Brittish in August 1778, he was orderly sergeant & so continued untill he was appointed Ensign, 1780.  In this service the said Mathewson had the command of the Regiment to which said Company was attached, as will affirm by an old muster Roll which has been in the possession of this applicant ever since the war & is now hereunto attached - He was orderly Sergeant one year & ten months, [text obliterated by black smear] August 1778 & June 1780 at least and did duty, for which he claims a pension  he was then an Ensign and did duty as such four months as before stated.

And this applicant further says Daniel Snow was with him in Sullivans expedition

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and his deposition is hereto annexed.  There is no other person living that he knows that can testify to his services, but the Revd James Wilson & Joseph Rawson are acquainted with him & can testify in his behalf  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
Lemuel Field

May 18 1833 Sworn to in open Court
B Cowell Clk

We James Wilson a Clergyman residing in the City of Providence and Joseph Rawson also residing in said Providence hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Lemuel Field who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 83 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 can concur in that opinion
James Wilson
Joseph Rawson

Sworn to in open Court
B Bowell Clk

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No 25743
Lemuel Field Providence County Rhode Island

Sergt 20 March
Ensign 4
           24

140  2
280
  30
550

Ben Cowell Providence Rd. Island

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

183

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and He subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you reutrn your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Lemuel  Field Providence County Rhode Island


Period when the          Duration of the
service was rendered.  claimant's service.
                                         Years. Months. Days.
Served 1775
Served May 1779               -          6           -
Served Nov 1777
           to June 1780           2.          7          -
Served June 1780 
            to June 1782
Served as orderly Sergt - 1 year & 10 months
Served as ensign - 4 months

Rank of   Names and rank of the Field officers
the claimant.   under whom he served.
private                Cap Mathewson
   "                       Genl Spencer
    "      
Ensign               Cap Snow Col Fenner

Age at present,  
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
83 years County of Providence Rhode Island

Proof by which the declaration is supported
Traditionary Eviden, one Witness certfied credible & documentary evidence - papers correctly attached

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

100
   40
140

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army. and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops,' "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers. mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record:

DECLARATION,

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of    County of     }ss.

On this      day of      personally appeared (a) before       A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of      and State, Territory or District
of       aged (c)       years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)     , with      and
served in the       (e) regiment of the
line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field  and Company Officers; the time he left the service (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers ;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied.so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.          A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I      of the Court of      do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of         for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this      day, of
&c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing. with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman. residing in the
and C. D. residing in (the same), hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

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 RevoIntionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appeals to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I,     Clerk of the Court of        do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of       for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this     day of       
&c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex- expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?  And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer.  { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general. and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, atttend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title! the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides, If he should fail to do so, be must assign a sufficient reason for
not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when be served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom be served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit ir the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith. that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not lese than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:-For ____year ____months, and ____ days, I served as a ____ .  For ____ mouths and ____ days, served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about or four months, [previous five words in italics]
in too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.

(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if be has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[drawing of a pointing hand] The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable i militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found. the declarant must state the fact.
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

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Sur. File 21.196
Lemuel Field 

A muster roll of Capt. James Snow's co., Col. John Mathewson's R. I. regt., from Aug. 21, 1778; for 20 days service, has been removed from this case to be forwarded to the War Department.

J.M.H.  July 27. 1910

Sent to War Dept. 
Jany. 16. 1913.  c

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found mutilated
July 26 1910.  AW

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Revolution   21 196    am
INVALID.

File No. 21,196
Lemuel Field
Sergt  Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 137

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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[mutilated scrap of document]

[torn] ommand, or such P[torn]eof as you shall de[torn]lity, you are to refil[torn], kill and destroy the[torn]fe Parts.  You are [torn]o follow [torn]n Instruc[torn]ther given forth, either by the General Assemb[torn] Officers  And for your so doing, this Comm[torn]

[torn] under my Hand and Seal of the [torn] [illegible] in the Yea[torn] Hundred and Eighty and in [torn]ncy's Command,
[illegible partial signature]

FIELD, LEMUEL

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Head Quarters 6th May 1777

The within named Field is [illegible] from January in A Military Capacity untill further orders -
Wm Peck [illegible] A. Genl

S. File 21196
Lemuel Field
R. I.

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Providence   May 6" 1777

Genr. Spenser

Sr.  As Mr. Lemuel Field is making Canteens for the Troops witch is mutch wanted I Define he may be Released from Duty for the project and you will mutch oblige

Yours  John Smith Cl

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And now on this 7th day of August 1833 Lemuel Field maketh further oath in explanation of his declaration made May 28th last past.  Said Lemuel declares that he was a private in an Independent Company in 1775 commanded by Col. Mathewson as stated & he continued as private until he was made a Sergeant in Sullivans expedition in August 1778 - and this applicant says that between June 1775 and May 6 1777, he sent [word smeared] as a private on Prudence, at Bristol, Warwick, Patuxet & other places along the Shores of Narragansett Bay in actual service Eight months at least.  and he says that on said 6th of May he was detached to make canteens for the army (being a Cooper by Trade) and he made canteens for the army in November as stated, & from that time until Sullivans expedition in August 1778, he did military nearly all the time in said Company

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in garding the shores of Naragansett Bay the Brittish being then in possession of Newport and he avers that between November [illegible]th 1777 & August 1778, he did duty as a private in actual service six months at least [text smeared] all twenty months including the six he made canteens that he was a private in said Corps - 

And he further says in explanation, that in August 1778, he was promoted to be a Sergeant in said Company & he continued to be a Sergeant until June 1780 when he recd an Ensigns Commission and he avers that between August 1778 & June 1780 he was on duty all the time one year & ten months, at least and in the capacity of Sergeant as stated in his first declaration - This duty was performed in garding the garding the shores of said Naragansett sometimes he was stationed in the fort at Patuxet & sometimes as far down the Bay as Warwick on the Western shore & down as far as Bristol on the Eastern shore & the rest of time at Providence he was always on the alert

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In June 1780 he recd the appointment of Ensign & was commissioned by the Governor of Rhode Island but his Commission is lost except a small part attached to his first declaration.  he was Ensign in Capt Snows Company & Col Richard Fenners Regiment of Militia & as such, he avers he did duty under them four months as stated in his said declaration - 

And he was a private  - 20 months
     do a Segeant          - 22 do
     do - Ensign              -  4 do
                                      46 months

he says he served forty six months at least in the companies & Regiments & at the places mentioned aforesaid [text blotted out] in his first declaration      Lemuel Field

August 7th 1833
Sworn to before me by the said Lemuel
Benjn Cowell
Commission Dist Court
R. I. District

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application of Lemuel Field
25.743

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I Daniel Snow of Providence being now in my 76th year do testify and I say that I was with Lemuel Field who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration one month in Sullivans Expedition in August 1778 said Field was orderly Sergeant in our Company - 
Daniel Snow

May 28th 1833
Sworn to in open Court
B Cowell Clk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further testifies that it appears to them that Reuben Allen who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Smithfield & Philip Mathewson who signed the same is a credible person and also that Daniel

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Snow is also a credible witness & that their Statements are entitled to credit

I Benjamin Cowell Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of of Lemuel Field for a pension

In testimony where of I have herewith set my hand & affix the seal of said Court this 28th day of May AD 1833 - 
Benjamin Cowell Clk