Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,050, Thomas White, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.J
White Thomas
S 22,050
CONTENTS

21.580 Alma Island
Thomas White
of Newport in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Simmons of the Regt , commanded by Col. Blackstone in the R.I. Militia time for Defense
Doc 7-1844 CH3 -
Inscribed on the Roll of Alma Island at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Sept 1833 and last  Col. E. Pratt  Newport R.I.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1833 $200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 31 , 40.00 $240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Atkinson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 136

Declaration
State of Rhode Island } County of Newport, Town of Little Compton } Sc. }
On this twenty fifth day of October, A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate of Little Compton in the county and State aforesaid, at an adjourned session thereof Thomas White, a resident of said Little Compton, aged seventy two years, or thereabouts, who being first 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 7 th 1832:
1 That he was first draughted, as a private in Captain George Simmons' company of militia, in the Town of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island, December 1776, and immediately entered upon duty in said company, which was called into service with a view of protecting the shores of Little Compton from the incursions of the enemy. The arrangement of duty in said company was to the following effect, viz. that one half of the company was called into service for one month, which was then relieved by the other half, the succeeding month, and so on alternately, so long as the necessity for a guard continued - the whole company in the mean while being liable to duty and ready for actual service at a moment's warning. Declarant further states upon oath, that living near the seashore in Little Compton and being convenient to the business, he not only served in his own turn every alternate month, so long as the British continued at Rhode Island but also nearly every intervening month as a substitute for others. Among these he can mention James Tompkins, Charles Brownell & others deceased.
2. Declarant claims therefor to have served on guard duty in the manner aforesaid a period of two years and three months. With the following exceptions viz. Declarant was accepted and served as a substitute for Sylvanus Brown for the period of a month as a private in Capt. George Simmons' company of Little Compton militia, which was marched to Rhode Island, August 1778, as a part of the force composing the army under General Sullivan in his celebrated expedition. Declarant afterwards was draughted and continued to serve in the same expedition another term of time (he cannot exactly say what - probably a month)

in the company of Little Compton militia commanded by Captain Gideon Simmons, which was attached to General Sullivans army. Declarant remained on the Island and near it, at the time and after the retreat of the army and was then dismissed. - Finally, when the expedition to Rhode Island in 1777, under the command of General Spencer was in a course of preparation, declarant was draughted as a private in the company of Little Compton militia, commanded by Nathaniel Church, was ordered to Slade's ferry, on the Swansy side, and assisted in the transportation of troops, stores &c but for what length of time he is unable positively to state, but supposes it to be about one month.
3. Declarant further states upon oath as aforesaid, that he was born in the Town of Little Compton, in the then Colony of Rhode Island, February 18 th 1760; but that there is no record of his birth in the town books, office of said town; by some inadvertence it was having been recorded. Nor has he any written evidence of his birth. That at the time of his first entering the service as aforesaid Decr. the 1776, he was living in said Little Compton; that he has lived there since the Revolutionary war, and that he now lives there: that he is unable to fix with more precision than he has been done, the day, month and year when he entered the service, or when he left the same; that he never received any written discharge from either of the companies in which he served as aforesaid, nor was it usual in the Revolution to grant such discharges: that he has no documentary evidence of the services he has sworn to, nor did he ever possess any: that as to the manner in which he entered the service, and the names of the officers under whom he served, they are succinctly stated in the preceding part of this Declaration. Declarant claims to have served in the whole, two years and three months actual duty.
4. Declarant further states, as aforesaid, that refers to Uriah Pomplian, and Edward Grey, as persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.

5. 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 in open Court, the day and year above written.
Thomas White
Witness J. K. B. W. M. Probate Clerk.
We, Uriah Tompkins, residing in Little Compton, in the county of Newport, and State of Rhode Island; and Edward Gray, residing in the same Little Compton, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas White, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration: that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age, or thereabouts and 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; and that we believe him to be a person of veracity.
Sworn to, and subscribed in open Court, the day and year above written.
Uriah Tompkins Edward Gray
Witness J. K. B. W. M. Probate Clerk.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies, that Uriah Tompkins, who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Little Compton, and that Edward Gray, who has also signed the same is also a resident of the same Little Compton; that both are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
The testimony of the nearest clergyman having been requested, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of the applicant the Court think it proper to state, that the Rev. Emerson Paine having been recently settled in this place, and the only one who could be conveniently called upon, was not sufficiently acquainted

with the applicant to be used as a witness.
I, Alexander R. Brownell, clerk of the Court of Probate, of the Town of Little Compton, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas White for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this twenty fifth day of October, A. D. 1832.
A. R. BROWNELL Probate Clerk.

George Brown, of Little Hampton in the State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, upon solemn oath, deposes & says, that he is well acquainted with Thomas White, who has this day subscribed and sworn to his Declaration, in open Court, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. that he is known, to the fact, that said White performed his guard duty in Capt. George Simmons' company of militia - in the manner pointed out in his Declaration - the whole time that the British were in possession of Rhode Island, having served with him as a private in the same company. Said White did duty at the Rowse House at the present in Little Hampton as deponent believes. This deponent is known, also, to the fact, that the declaration was accepted & served as a substitute for Sylvanus Brown in Sullivan's expedition, as stated in his declaration. This Sylvanus Brown was a brother of the deponent.
Deponent testifies also that he was present and served with said Thomas White in the militia of Little Hampton, commanded by Nathaniel Church - at the time of the preparation for S pc co's expedition at Slade's ferry in 1777. Said White then served for a period of a month.
Newport R.I.
George Brown State of Rhode Island &c.
Court of Probates, Town of Little Hampton October 25 th 1832. Then personally appeared in open court, George Brown, subscriber to the foregoing deposition, and having first heard read the declaration of Thomas White to this Court made in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832) made solemn oath to the truth of each and every part of said deposition by him, the said George subscribed. And the Court further certifies that said George Brown is a person of good reputation and standing, and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court.
A. N. Brown Probate Clerk.

Nathaniel Tompkins, of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, upon solemn oath, deposes & says that he is well acquainted with Thomas White, who has this day, in open Court, subscribed and sworn to his Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress of June 7 th , 1832 - that he is knowing to said White's having served as a private in the first division of militia which went on to join Gen. Sullivan's expedition, in August 1778 - having lived with him at that time in the same tent. Whether at this time he was a substitute for Sylvanus Brown, deponent does not recollect. Said White was on duty for the period of a month. Nathaniel Tompkins
Newport R.I.
State of Rhode Island &c
Court of Probates, Town of Little Compton October 25 th , 1832 -
Then personally appeared in open Court, Nathaniel Tompkins, subscriber to the foregoing deposition, and (having first heard read the declaration of Thomas White to this Court made in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress, passed June 7 th , 1832) made solemn oath to the truth of each and every part of said deposition, by him, the said Nathaniel subscribed. And the Court further certifies, that said Nathaniel Tompkins is a person of good reputation and standing, and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Court.
J. W. Brown Probate Clerk.

Supplementary Declaration
State of Rhode Island County of Newport, Town of Little Compton
On this ninth day of August, A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the board of Probate of Little Compton, in the county and State aforesaid at an adjourned session thereof, Thomas White, a resident of said Little Compton, being the same Thomas White, who made his declaration to this court on the twenty fifth day of October A.D. 1832 (in order to obtain the benefit of an act passed June 7 th 1832) and having been duly sworn cloth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration and affidavits to be annexed to his original declaration and duly authenticated.
1. That with regard to the first paragraph in said original declaration, he states on oath, that he was draughted and ordered upon duty in Captain George Simmons company of Little Compton militia, as mentioned in said paragraph, on the eighth day of December 1776, and that he continued to perform guard duty in the said company, in the Town of Little Compton, in the manner and with the exceptions mentioned in said original declaration to the eighth day of October 1777; that owing to his defect of memory and advanced age, he is unable to designate the particular months, when he acted as substitute for James Thompson, and others, as stated in said declaration; but he again distinctly avers that he served a period of two years and three months , in his capacity of guard, with the following exceptions, when he was engaged on extraordinary duty, viz: two months in 1778, in Sullivan's expedition & one month in the expedition prepared and given up by Major Genl. Spencer 1778 . His guard duty was performed by companies, and not by regiments declared finds it difficult to recollect who was actually Colonel at any particular

period. He has a distinct recollection that Col. Wm. Park and Nathaniel Church had successively the command of the regiment, and also that Col. Park was occasionally in command. The regimentals & company officers in the mili- tia of this State were at that time and still are chosen an- nually by the General Assembly of the State.
2. That with regard to the services stated in the second paragraph of his said original declaration, declarant avers that he was accepted and served as a substitute for Syl- vanus Brown, as therein mentioned from the 1st day of Au- gust 1778 to the first day of September 1778. That during this first tour of duty in Sullivan's Expedition he was in the company of George Simmons (John Davis, Lieutenant) and was commanded by Col. Miller of Bristol. That declarant as stated was draughted and served another tour as a private in the same company of militia under the orders of Col. John Cook in the same expedition of Gen. Sullivan - and that he served from 1st September 1778 to the 1st to the 1st October 1778. That as to his service in Spencer's expedition mentioned in the same paragraph of his original declara- tion he was draughted and served in the company of Littleton militia commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Church on the 1st day of October 1778 and according to his best recollection continued in service there until 1st December of the same year. Lieutenant not recalled of 1779. Thomas Kutz
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year before written. Wm. H. Williams Probate Clerk.
T. Alexander R. Brownell, Clerk of

the Court of Probates of the Town of Kingston in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island do hereby certify, that the foregoing papers (attached together by one ribbon which passes under the seal hereto set) contain all the original proceedings of said Court (in the matter of the application of Thomas White for a pension) held the twenty fifth day of October, A. D. 1832, also the depositions of George Brown and Nathaniel Pomfret, both taken by said Court (in the same matter of the application of said Thomas for a pension) on the twenty fifth day of October aforesaid: together with the Supplementary declaration of said Thomas White to this Court made, on the ninth day of August A. D. 1833, and which is now, for the first time to said papers annexed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this ninth day of August. A. D. 1833.
J. H. Brown Probate Clerk.

February 9, 1934
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thomas White-S.22050 BA-J/AWF
Mary M. Tyler 10 Griffin Place Asbury Park, New Jersey
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Thomas White of Little Compton, Rhode Island.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.22050, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Thomas White.
He was born February 16, 1760 in Little Compton, Rhode Island; names of his parents not given.
While residing in said Little Compton, he enlisted, December 8, 1776 and served as a private in monthly tours in the Rhode Island militia in Captains George Simmons' and Nathaniel Church's companies, Colonels William Richmond's and John Cooke's regiments; he was in Sullivan's Expedition in 1778, and served two years and three months.
Thomas White was allowed pension on his application executed, October 25, 1832, then a resident of Little Compton, Rhode Island, where he had always lived. He died December 7, 1844.
There are no data in this claim relative to the family of Thomas White.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

22/1/32,
Thomas White
Served 2 years, months .
Private, Capt Simmons Co. Richmond R.I.
Amended agreeably to the requisitions of the Commissioner. See Declarant's Supplementary declaration as to tours of service and names of officers as near as can be recollected.
Papers attached and duly authenticated.
C. E. Robbins Esq.
Newport
R.I.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas White which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? No. - He must set forth each particular term of active service, when & where performed, the length of each term & the names of all the officers under whom he served. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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? Certified by two citizens
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?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy
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? yy
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yy
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."

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 three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn 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.
†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 be supported 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 he 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.
†QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

January 30, 1934.
Bureau of Rev. Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs:
I would like to have the pension record of Thomas White , of Little Compton R.I. His name is on the 1840 pension list. He was born in 1761 - served in Rhode Island I believe.
Thank you.
Mary Mayon Tyler 10 Griffin Place Asbury Park N.J.

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Revolution
22050 INVALID.
No. 22,050
Thomas White
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]