Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,432, James Gaff, R.I.

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Service :R.J.
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Gaff. James
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Or Goff
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Number: S.17.432
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Carded

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[left side]
Died Aug. 6-1836. A. B.

[right side]
3168
Rhode Island
James Gaff of Bristol in the state of RI who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded by Col Martin in the RI line for 20 [mos?] 20 Days

Inscribed on the Roll of RI at the rate of 68 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the [9th?] day of Decr 1832 and Sent Levi [illegible] Warren RI

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 $103.32
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March 33 34.44
$137.76

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by JH McBlair Clerk
Book D, Vol. 3rd, Page 114.

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2241

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Declaration 

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th, 1832.

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, County of Bristol Ss. on this twenty eighth day of July A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting at Bristol, within and for the County of Bristol in said State, James Gaff, a resident of Bristol in the County of Bristol in said state, aged seventy two years & upwards, 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.

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

Some time in the Fall of A.D. 1775, the precise time he does not recollect, he was enrolled in Captain [illegible] Company of Militia in the Town of Barrington in said County of Bristol, and at that time he was drafted or ordered out in said Company of Militia to guard the shores in said Barrington, and he served as a private soldier in guarding the shores during the term of three months. Said guard was commanded by Samuel Bosworth and George Salisbury was the Lieutenant [illegible] and David Kinnicutt was Ensign of said Company said Company belonged to Col. Nathaniel Martin's Regiment.

After the expiration of said three months service he removed from Barrington to Warren in said County, and he was the drafted in Cap. Ezra Crusbee's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren, and served [as] a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores in said County for three months or more. He served until some time in the month [of] June A.D. 1776. He cannot recollect the precise time of entering or leav[ing] said service, but he is confident that he served more than [illegible] in both of said Companies in said guard service from the Fall of 1775 to June 1776. Said last mentioned Company belonged to Col. Nathaniel Martin's Regiment.

He enlisted in the full part of October A.D. 1776 into Captain Thomas Allin's Company in Colonel John Cook's Regiment of the Rhode Island line for the term of three months, and he served as a private soldier in said Company during said term of three months. He served in said Company in Newport in said State until the British fleet arrived at said Newport when he retreated with said Company to Bristol in said state, where he served until the expiration of said term of three months, when he was discharged.

On or about the 16th of June A.D. 1777, he enlisted into Captain Thomas Allin's Company in Colonel Archibald Carary's [Crary's] Regiment of the Rhode Island line for the term of nine months, and he served as a private soldier in said Company during said term of nine months. He was discharged on or about the 16th of March A.D. 1778.

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He served a part of said nine months in Bristol and the remainder of said term at Little Campton in said state. He was at said little Campton with said Company at the time of General Spencer's expedition on Rhode Island. John Topham was Lieutenant Colonel at said Regiment said Regiment was attached to the Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Cornell.

In the month of July A.D. 1778 Edward Kinnicut was drafted in Captain Curtis' Cole's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren and he the said James Gaff volunteered as a substitute for said Edward Kinnicut and served as a private solider in said Company in Rhode Island for the term of twenty days. at the expiation of twenty days, he was drafted in said company for the term of  twenty days, served as a private soldier in this company for said term attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Wathan Miller: Grey was Lieutenant Colonel, Peter Heath was major and and William T. Miller was Adjutant of said Regiment. He was in said service during, the [illegible] term of August A.D. 1778
 
ON or about the first of September A.D. 1779 Captain Curtis Vole's Company of Militia in the Town of Warren was ordered out to guard the shores in said County of Bristol; he was at that time Member of said Company and served as a private soldier in said company during the term of two months in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol, he was discharged from said Service on or about the last of October A.D. 1779 Thomas Easterbrooks was Lieutenant and Edward Mason was Ensign of said Company and said Company was attached to Col. Wathan Miller, Regiment of which Peter Church was Lieutenant Colonel.

He was born in Bristol aforesaid on the 25th day of August A.D. 1759. He has no record of his age, he has researched the record of the Town of Bristol and cannot find his age records.
He lived in Barrington when he entered the first of said service, and in Warren in said County of Bristol when he entered the remainder of said service: he has lived in said Town of Warren since the Revolutionary war until about twenty years last part, during which twenty years he has lived in said Town of Bristol and he now lives in said Town of Bristol. He received no written discharge from said service. he was discharged verbally by the commanding officer at the expiation of each term of service. he has no dockumentary [sic] evidence of his service and he knows of no person  but Jonathan J. Drown [Jesse Gibson?] and Joseph Munro
Whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.

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He is known, to the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution viz:  Rev. Henry  [illegible]Wright John Howe Esq--
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 to day and year aforesaid
{signatures]
James Gaff
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk
We Henry Wright a clergyman, residing in Bristol aforesaid and John Howe residing in said Bristol. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Gaff, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age and upwards 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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
{signatures]
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

Henry Wright
John Howe

And the court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that James Gaff the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. and the court further certifies that is appears to them that Henry Wright who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Bristol aforesaid and that John Howe who has also signed the same is  a resident in said Bristol and is a credible person and that their statements is entitled to credit
{signatures]
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk
I Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of James Gaff for a pension.
in Testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal of office this 24 day of July AD [illegible; think it is 1832]
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

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2241
Jas. Gaff
R.I.

W.C.E.

20 months & 20 days

Papers not properly
Authenticated

Levi Haile
Warren R.I.

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2241
BRIEF in the case of James Gaff
of Bristol of Bristol by
in the State of Rhode Island
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Table]
[Col 1 Header] Period. [Col 2 Header] Duration of Service, Years, Months, Days. [Col 3 Header] Rank.  [Col 4 Header] Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.

[Row 1]
[Col 1] Some time in the fall of 1775
[Col 2] [Years] - [Months] 3 [Days] 
[Col 3] private
[Col 4] Capt. V Allen

[Row 2]
[Col 1] after expiration of above till June '76 
[Col 2] [Years] - [Months] 3 or more [Days] -
[Col 3] do
[Col 4] Capt. Ormsbee, col. Martin


[Row 3]
[Col 1] for part of Oct. '76 till end of term
[Col 2] [Years] - [Months] 3 [Days] -
[Col 3] do
[Col 4] Capt. Thos Allen Col Theo Cook

[Row 4]
[Col 1] on or about 15 June '77 - 16 March '78
[Col 2] [Years] - [Months] 9 [Days] -
[Col 3] do
[Col 4] do   Col. Arch Cavary

[Row 5]
[Col 1] In July '78
[Col 2] [Years] - [Months] - [Days] 20
[Col 3] substitute
[Col 4] Capt. Cole, Col. Miller

[Row 6]
[Col 1] about at Sept '79 - to last of Oct
[Col 2] [Years]  [Months] 2 [Days] -
[Col 3] private
[Col 4] do- do
[end table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Barrington Warren

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls? 2 Living Witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
right

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.

W. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.

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April 13, 1938
Marjorie G. Seabury RA-J/ILL
216 Hawthorn Street James Gaff
New Bedford, Massachusetts. S. 17432

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War of James Goff, a pensioner of Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1832.
The data which are found in pension claim, S.17432, based upon service of James Gaff (Goff) in that war; he was pensioner cited by you
James Gaff (Goff) was born August 25, 1759, in Bristol, Rhode Island; the names of his parents are not show.

While a resident of Barrington, Rhode island, he enlisted in the fall of 1775, and served three mounths as a private in Captain Vial Allin's company, colonel Nathaniel Martin's Rhode Island regiment, engaged in guarding the shore. He moved from there to warren, Rhode island. He enlisted there and served three months in Captin Ezra Ormsbee's company, Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Rhode island regement, from which he was discharged in June 1776. He enlisted early in October 1776, and served three months in Captain thomas Allin's company, Colonel John Cook's Rhode island Regiment. He enlisted June 15,1777, and served nine months as private in Captin Thomas Allin's company, Colonel Archibald Crary's Rhode Island regiment. He volunteered on Colonel Nathen Miller's rhode Island regiment. He enlisted about September 1, 1779, and served two months under those same officers.

The soldier resided in Warren, Rhode Island, until about the

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year 1812, then Moved back to Bristol, Rhode Island.

	James Gaff (Goff)  was allowed pension on his application executed July 24,1832, at which times he resided in Bristol, Rhode Island. His name was borne on the pension roll as James Gaff. He died August 6, 1836.

	there are no data whatever pertaining to your family of this soldier in this claim for pension.

Ver truly yours,

A.D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

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216 Hawthorn St
New Bedford Mass.

Pension Bureau
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen: - Will you please send me all the information you have concerning James Goff of Bristol R.I?
James Goff, private Col. Gary’s regiment 1776 pay due $13. 3.00 Pension Roll 1835 - James Goff private Bristol County all $68.88 rec. $266.64 R.I. Militia pl. Dec 17, 1832 comm. Mar 4, 1831 aged 74. The above copied from Arnold’s vital records vol 12.
Sincerely yours
Marjorie G Seabury

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17432

INVALID

File No. 17.432

James Gaff
Pri Rev Mar

Act: June 7 '32

Index: - Vol. 1, Page 451

{Arrangement of 1870}

[Handwritten note to the side of the form] 
1938 April 13 - Hist to Marjorie G. Seabury - [unintelligible]

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2241
Jas. Gaff

[???]

20 mos & 20 days

[???]

$68,88

Levi Haile
Warren RI

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jas. Gaff which require further
Proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason 
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes

V. Has he mentioned 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?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?  Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? no
yes

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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?
Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
Yes

XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
 [yes]

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered ?
 Yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 in 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 less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ---- 
year ----- months and -- days, I served as a---.
For------ months and ----- days, I served as a ----; and for such service I claim a pension."

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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, 
as above directed.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

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I Jonathan J. Drown, of Barrington in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation of the age of seventy one years last August, in solemn affirmation do depose and say that I enlisted into Captain Thomas Allen's Company in Colonel Archibald
Cavary's Regiment of Rhode Island line, which was raised for fifteen months service; I enlisted in the fore part of the year A.D. 1777 and served in said Company as a private soldier until the 16th day of March A.D. 1778, when said company and Regiment were discharged.
And I further depose and say that James Goff of Bristol [crossed out] in the County and State aforesaid, enlisted into Captain Thomas Allen's Company aforesaid, in said Regiment for the
term of nine months, and said Gaff served as a private soldier in said Allen's Company during the whole of said nine months and was discharged with said Company; there was no written discharge given to those who served in said Company.
Jonathan J Drown
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 24 day of July AD 1832
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

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I John Sisson of where in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, aged seventy four years and upward,  on solemn oath, do testify and say that in the five last of the month of October A.D. 1776 I enlisted into Captain Thomas Allin, Company in Colonel John Cook's Regiment of the Rhode Island line for the term of three months and served as a private soldier in said Company during said term of three months, and I further depose and say, that James Goff, of Bristol in the County and State aforesaid enlisted into said Captain Thomas Allin's company for the term of three months, at the same time I enlisted, and that said James Goff served as a private soldier in said Capt. Allin's Company and Col. Cook's Regiment during the whole of said term of three months, and he was in said company when said company was discharged.

And I do further testify and say, that on the 6th of March A.D. 1777 I enlisted into Captain Caleb Cain's Company in in Colonel Archibald Cavary's Regiment in the Rhode Island line and served in said Company until the 16th of March A.D. 1778 and that said James Goff on or about the 16th of June A.D. 1777 enlisted in Captain Thomas Allin's Company in said Colonel Cavalry's Regiment and served as a private soldier in said Company during the term of nine months; and that he was in said Company when said Company and Regiment was discharge on said 16th of March 1778.

I was also drafted and served in the Militia in Major General Sullivan's Expedition on Rhode Island in August A.D. 1778 for the term of twenty days during all while time said James Goff served as a private soldier in Captain Curtis Cole Company of Militia. we served in Col. Wathan Miller Regiment and in said Curtis Cole's Company.
{signature]
John Sisson

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on this 24 day of July AD 1832
Attest Ichabod Davis Clerk

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I Joseph Munro, resident in Bristol in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, aged seventy years and upwards, do testify and say, on solemn oath, that I have been well acquainted with James Goff resident in said Bristol, for upwards of sixty years; that some time in the fore part of the year 1776. I think, said James Goff, was drafted in Captain Dryer Crosbee's Company of Militia in the Town of Warren in said County, and he served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the stores in said County for three months or more until some time in the month of June A.D. 1775. On or about the 1st of September A.D. 1779. Said James Goff in Captain Curtis Cole's of Militia in said Town of Warren was drafted  or ordered out and he served as a private soldier in said Company five months, in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol. he was discharged from said service on or about the last of October A.D. 1779. Thomas Easterbrooks was Lieutenant & Edward Mason was Ensign of said Company. I served in said Company in said two months.
{signatures]
Joseph Munro

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 14th day of July A.D. 1832


Attest Ichabod Davis, Clerk

The Court hereby certify that it appears to them that Jonathan J. Drown, John Sisson and Joseph Munro, who have subscribed and sworn to the aforewritten deposition, are credible persons, and that their statements are entirely credible.

Attest Ichabod Davis, Clerk

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The National Archives 
form VAM-51
12-5-41
Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*
Division of Veterans' Administrtion Archives

Names: Gaffett, John Grade: Filter Line: New Hampshire

Warrant Number: 3/30  Acreage: 100 Issued: Nov. 10, 1789 ~not phown~

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of 'Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions pf September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the war department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Goverment is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.