Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,064, William Woodman, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.S.
Woodman, William
S 22,064
CONTENTS

21.575  Who de Aland William Woodman of Newport in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Mawson of the Regt commanded by Col Richmond in the R.I. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Aland at the rate of 80 - Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of Sept  1833 and bearer J. E. G.  Robbins Newport R.I.  Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1835 $ 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 31 - 40.00  $240.00
Revolutionary Claim, } of June 7, 1832. }  Recorded by W. Aland Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 136

22/94
William Woodman
Penal
Served two years.
Capt. Simmons Col Rich- mond R.I.
Amended in Declarants Supplementary declaration by stating as near as his memory will permit - the tours of service and officers under whom he served -
Papers authenticated & properly attached -
Chris. E. Robbins Handwritten signature
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 William Woodman 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 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?
Certificate of Citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No mistake - the reason is assigned in the clerks first certificate annexed to the original declaration see page 4 th 3 rd
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? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? Yes  No
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."

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 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 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.

Declaration.
State of Rhode Island &c County of Newport, Town of Little Compton ss
On this tuesday  Friday fifth day of September  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, William Woodman, a resident of said Little Compton, aged seventy five years, 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 a militia company of Little Compton, in the then Colony of Rhode Island, September 1775 - and was marched to the Bannister House, near Newport, where declarant did duty for two months. This company was commanded by Captain George Simmons, and was ordered to Newport to repel the incursions of Captain Wallace and others, who were continually marauding upon the Island and driving off stock. At the expiration of said term, the company having returned to Little Compton, declarant was discharged.
2. That in the latter part of the year 1776, he was draughted, and served, as a private, in the militia company of said Little Compton, called the South company, commanded by Captain Gideon Simmons, and was marched to, and stationed in Newport. Declarant was present and on duty, when the British fleet arrived, December 1776, and took possession of Rhode Island. The American force having retreated, Simmons' company, of which declarant was one, returned to Little Compton, and were discharged - declarant having served therein a term of one month.
3. That in December 1776, he was draughted, as a private, in the militia company, commanded by Capt George Simmons, in said Little Compton, to do duty as guards to protect the shores of that district from the incursions of the enemy. Declarant immediately entered on this duty, and continued to serve in said company, in the capacity aforesaid, every alternate month, for a period of two years and nine months; viz. while the British

were in possession of Rhode Island. The arrangements of guard duty, as declarant recollects, was, that one half of the company should be called out for one month; and then be relieved by the other half, the succeeding month; and so on alternately so long as the service of a guard was required - the whole company, in the mean time, being liable to duty and ready at a moment's warning.
Declarant always took his regular tour of duty - but during this period, while not on duty as guard - declarant was ordered he performed the following services, to wit - 1 st An alarm having been raised, that the British fleet, then in possession of New-Port were about to ascend the Bay, and make an attempt on Bristol &c he was ordered out in Captain G. Simmons' company, as a private, and did duty at Howlands ferry for a week - when the alarm having subsided, the company was dismissed.
2 nd That in the autumn of 1777 at the time of General Spencer's expedition, he was draughted as a private in the same company of militia, and was marched to Tiverton - where he served for a month without going upon Rhode Island; but the expedition having been finally abandoned, declarant was discharged.
3 rd That at the time of Sullivan's expedition, August 1778, declarant was draughted, and served, as a private, in Captain Gideon Simmons' company of Little Compton militia, for a period of a month. Declarant immediately proceeded to Rhode Island; and was present and engaged in managing the boats in conducting the retreat. Most of Col. Cook's regiment, of which Simmons' company was a part, was engaged in this business.
4 That, after the British left Rhode Island, declarant was draughted and served as a private a period of two months - one in Captain Gideon Simmons' company, and one in Captain Rouse Pearce's company, at Rhode Island and that he then returned to Little Compton and was discharged.
5 That the declarant is informed and believes that some, if not all of the before mentioned draughts were made under the authority of the act of the General Assembly, passed December 1776, draughting into three divisions all

male persons, liable to bear arms in this State, and placing them under the auth orders of the Governor, or comm under for the time being, to be marched as soon as possible to such places as said authorities should direct.
6 Declarant further states, upon oath, as aforesaid, that he was born in the town of Little Compton in the then Colony of Rhode Island, March 24 th 1757: that a record of his birth is to be found in the Town clerk's office of said town, a proper certificate of which from the present town clerk will be hereunto annexed: that he was living in said town of Little Compton at the time of his first being draughted in the militia, September 1775: that he has lived in said town since the revolutionary war; and that he now lives there: that he is unable to give with more precision than he has herein attempted, the exact 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 said companies in which he served as aforesaid; nor was it customary in the Revolution to grant such certificates: that he has no documentary evidence of the services he has sworn to; nor did he ever possess any: that as to the manner of his being called into service and the names of the officers under whom he served, they are succinctly stated in the preceding part of this Declaration: and that he claims to have served in the whole two years of actual duty. - including a week's service at Foy. Land ferry in 1775 and not stated in the foregoing declaration (see deposition of Job Briggs annexed)
7 Declarant further states upon oath as aforesaid that he refers to John Tompkins, and Samuel Hillard, 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.
8 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 & subscribed in open Court, the day and year above written.
William Woodman
Witnesses J. H. Brown Probate Clerk.

We, John Tompkins, residing in Little Compton in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island; and Samuel Hillard, residing in the same Little Compton, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Woodman, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & 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 before written.
Samuel Hillard John Tompkins
Witness J. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
And the said Court 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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. — And the Court further certifies that Samuel Hillard, who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Little Compton; and that John Tompkins who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same Little Compton; and 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 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 William Woodman 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 J. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.

Town Clerk's Office Little Compton January 8 th A.D. 1833.
I hereby certify that William Woodman the son of William Woodman & Mary his Wife, was born March 21 st 1757. as appears of record. - - -
Witness A. B. Mill Town clerk.

Nathaniel Tompkins, of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island, of lawful age, upon solemn oath, deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with William Woodman, who has this day subscribed and sworn to his Declaration in open court in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he knows that said Woodman was a private and served in Captain George Simmons company September 1775, at the time it was marched against Wallace and quartered at the Bannister House. Deponent was a fellow soldier with said Woodman, and knows that he served at this time a period of five months. That as to the second period mentioned by said Woodman in his Declaration, of his services in Capt Gideon Simmons company December 1776, deponent knows, that said Woodman was reported to be a private in said Simmons company and came frequently to Deponents quarters: - deponent then being an enlisted soldier in the State troops, commanded by Captain Wilds. That as to the guard duty stated in said declaration to be performed by said Woodman, during the occupation of Rhode Island by the British, this deponent knows, that it is truly set forth, for he was a fellow soldier of said Woodman, in the same company, and performed that duty for the same period of time. That at the time of Spencer's expedition deponent knows that said Woodman was engaged in the boats at Howlands ferry, but for what length of time he is unable to state. Deponent volunteered his services on this occasion and was present and engaged with said Woodman. That as to the last service stated in said Woodmans Declaration deponent knows that Woodman was a private and served nearly a month in Rowse Penns company, after the British left Rhode Island, on deponent having served himself in said company at that period.
Nathaniel Tompkins
State of Rhode Island
Newport R.I.
Subscribed before me, Guntliff Probelor, Town of Little Compton, October 25 th , 1832.
Then personally appeared

Nathaniel Tompkins, subscriber to the foregoing deposition, in open court; and (having first heard read the declaration of William Woodman 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 signed. And the Court further certifies, that said Nathl. Tompkins is a person of good reputation & standing, & that his statements are entitled to credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court.
A. P. B. W. M. Probate Clerk.

W. Woodman
22194

Job Briggs, of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island, upon solemn oath, deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Wm. Woodman, who has this day subscribed and sworn to his Declaration, in open Court, for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832.
That he knows that said Woodman served, as he states, in the company marched against Wallace September 1775, but for what length of time he is unable to state.
Deponent knows, that said Woodman was stationed at Howlands ferry, at the time of Spencer's expedition in 1777, but for what length of time he is unable to state.
Deponent was not present in Sullivan's expedition, at the time said Woodman was employed - said Woodman having come to notice the deponent, who had been previously employed with therein.
When the King's rebel came into the East Channel, in 1778, said Woodman was present at Howland ferry, and did duty for a week or more - as deponent can testify, having been employed there himself.
Job Briggs
Newport R.I.
State of Rhode Island
Court of Probate, Town of Little Compton.
October 25 th 1832. - Then personally appeared
in open court, Job Briggs, subscribes to the foregoing deposition; and having first heard read the declaration of William Woodman 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 Job, subscribed. And the Court further certifies, that the said Job Briggs is a person of good reputation and standing, and that his statements are entitled to full faith & credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court.
J. H. Brownell Probate Clerk.

Supplementary Declaration
State of Rhode Island &c. County of Newport, Town of Little Compton Sc } }
On this ninth day of August, A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Probate of the Town of Little Compton in the county and State aforesaid at an adjourned session thereof William Woodman, a resident of Little Compton, being the same William who made his declaration to this Court the twenty fifth day of October A.D. 1832 (in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832) and having been duly sworn, doth on his oath, make the following Supplementary declaration and affidavit to be annexed to his original declaration and duly authenticated.
1 That with regard to the service mentioned in the first paragraph of declarant's original declaration, viz his tour of two months from September 1775 to November 1775, at the Barrister House near Newport, under Captain George Simmons, he is unable, from defect of memory & advanced age, to state, under oath, the precise day in September when he commenced said tour, or the very day in November after his discharge and return. He can only repeat the statement of his original declaration, that he was actually on duty for two months in said tour, and that his services commenced at the Barrister House some time in September 1775 and ended some time in November 1775. In addition to the name of his captain, he can here state that William Richmond was his Colonel and had the command at the Barrister House. Supt. Gray. Lieut. offo.
2. That with regard to the services stated in the second paragraph of declarant's original declaration - he here further avers that it was on the fifteenth day of November 1776 (according to his best recollection) that he was draughted, and entered on duty in the South company of

the Little Compton militia commanded by Capt: Gideon Smith. and Spencer Simmons Lieut. Col. which was marched to and stationed at Newport.
The British took possession of that town on the seventh of December 1778 - Declarant's company having returned to Little Compton & declarant having served out his month, was discharged on the fifteenth day of December 1778. John Cook was his Colonel on this tour.
That with regard to the services stated in the third paragraph of declarant's original declaration - he here further avers, that he was draughted and entered on duty as a private in Captain George Simmons company of Little Compton militia on the sixteenth day of December 1778 for the purpose of doing guard duty in Little Compton, and that he continued on duty every alternate month from the day last mentioned until the sixteenth day of September 1779 - (when the British were evacuating Rhode Island) making a term of duty as guard in Little Compton of one year and four and a half months actual duty. The duty of guard in Little Compton was performed by detached companies , and parts of companies , and not by the regiment in mass . The Colonels of the regiment & other officers, in Rhode Island, were chosen annually by the State Legislature - Consequently the Colonels were liable to be changed, and when not in command of their regiments are indiscriminably recalled. At the period of declarant's guard duty the Colonels, as he recollects, were William Richmond, Nathaniel Church: John Davis Lieut. of Col. on guard.
That in regard to the two tours of duty set forth in the same third paragraph of his original declaration declarant here further avers, on oath, - that as to his weeks tour at Howlands ferry in Rhode Island when the alarm existed that the British were ascending the Bay - he is unable from defect of memory and advanced age to state the time more particularly than is already set forth in his first declaration. He again avers on oath, that he rendered said service on the occasion stated at some time of the occupation of Rhode Island by the British - but as to the particular day and month he

is unable to state them precisely. That as to the second tour of service stated in said paragraph (when he was not on guard) to wit as to his month's service in General Spencer's expedition in the autumn of 1777 - he here further on oath states, that he was draughted and entered on duty as a private in Captain George Simmens company of Little Compton as a part of the expedition under General Spencer on the first day of October 1777, and that he continued on duty in that tour until the first day of November 1777, when he was discharged. Col. John Cook was the declarant's Colonel while engaged in this tour, and John Davis Lieut. of the company.
That with regard to the service in Sullivan's expedition as stated in the 4 th paragraph of declarant's original declaration - he here further avers on oath, that it was on the 31 st of August - or 1 st of September 1778 that he was draughted and entered upon duty as a private in Captain George Simmens company of Little Compton militia which was the second class detachment sent from that town to cooperate in the expedition. Declarant continued on duty with this company as stated in his declaration one month, viz. until the 1 st day of October 1778 - when he was discharged from that service. Col. John Cook was the Colonel commanding the companies from Preston and Little Compton. Jno. Davis Lieut. of Co and Stephen Pease Ensign.
That with regard to the two months tour at Rhode Island in the companies commanded by Captain Gideon Simmens, and Capt. Rowse Pearce, as stated in the fifth paragraph of declarant's original declaration - he is unable from defect of memory to specify time & place more particularly than he has done. He can only again aver on oath that he rendered said services as truly set forth in his original declaration. William Whadman Declarant claims 2 yrs actual duty. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court, the day and year above written. J. H. B. W. Ullrich, Prob. at Clerk.

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 here- by certify that the foregoing papers (attached together by one ribbon which papers under the seal hereto set) contain all the original proceedings of said Court (in the matter of the application of William Woodman for a pension) dated held on the twenty fifth day of October A. D. 1832; also the certificate of the clerk of Little Compton to the birth of said William, dated January 8 th 1833: the depositions of Nathaniel Pumpkin and Job Briggs in the same matter of the application of said William for a pension, by said Court taken, on the twenty fifth day of October 1832 said: together with the supplementary declaration of said William to this Court made dated the month, A. D. 1833, and now for the first time to said papers annexed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Court this twelfth day of August A. D. 1833.
A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of William Woodman , a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 822064
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept 75 2 yrs. Pri Geo Simmons Cook R.I.   Nov 1776 1 " " Gideon " " "   1777 1 mo 16 " Geo " " "   Autumn " 1 mo. " Geo " " "   Aug 1778 1 " " Gideon " " "   1778 or 79 1 " " " " " "   " " 1 " " Rowe Pearce " "  
Battles engaged in, Sullivan's expedition Residence of soldier at enlistment, Little Compton R.I. Date of application for pension, Oct 25, 1832. Residence at date of application, Little Compton R.I. Age at date of application, 57 " " May 24, 1775 Remarks: This pension was allowed
Gen. Elisha Dyer Providence R.I.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Revolution
22 064 INVALID.
File No. 22,064
William Woodman
Pris Res War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 461
[Arrangement of 1870.]

June 28/44 Mil. Dist. 60 Gen. Elisha Dyer. Providence, R.I.

Ab. P. W
W
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Adjutant General's Office.
Providence, June 14th, 1894
Hon. Wm. Lochren,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.,
Sir,
I have the honor to ask if it will be possible for you to supply from the records of your office, any information in relation to the service of William Woodman  late of  Little Compton, R.I. , who is said to have served in the War of the Revolution, and also to have been a pensioner.
Very respectfully,
Elisha Dyer
Adjutant-General