Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17772, Charles West, R.I. New York

SERVICE
R. J. New York
West, Charles
NUMBER
S. 17772
CONTENTS
carded
✓
✓

Massachusetts 15365
Charles West
of Worcester in the State of Mass ts who was a pri: in the company commanded by Captain Smith of the Reg t commanded by Col. Livington in the Rhode Island line for 13 months and N.Y.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of June 33 and sent to Sewio Child Southbridge Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 86.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " - 21.66 3/4 $108.32 3/4
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk, Book E. Vol. 2 Page 92
Date of death not on a B.
74 Barnes

21784 Charles West Map
Sturminster Newton Mms. p 43.33
Louis Child Southbridge Map

BRIEF in the case of  Charly West  Co of Worcester  in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open 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. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 17 th  enlisted — 7 Private Gen. Col. Livingston   Spring 1779 " " 3 " Col. Smith   Aug. " " 1 " Col. Kimble. Lieut. Smith   had continued to serve — 2 more " Genl. Spencer Esqr.   1 — 1  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Rhode Is.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Situate R. I.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional a document and two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payson
Examining Clerk.

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss
ON this Nineteenth day of December - in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty-two personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in Worcester  Charles West a resident of Southbridge in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy two 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.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
Viz. That in the Spring of the year 1778. I enlisted as a soldier in Captain Jones then Hopkins Company, for the term of seven months, and with said Company I joined the Regiment of Continental troops under the command of Col. Livingston, on Rhode Island at which place and at Pawtucket in the State of Rhode Island we served for the space of seven months. I was engaged in the battle on Rhode Island in August of the same year - at the expiration of said seven months I returned to Scituate in the State of Rhode Island where I then lived. I further state that in the Spring of the year 1779 that as private in the companies of Militia commanded by Captains Corner Smith and Stephen Kimball I went to Warwick in said State where we were stationed, in guarding the coast for the term of three months. - I further state that about the first of August in the same year in said Capt Kimball's Company Company of Militia I went to Warren in said State and served one month. I further state that from Warren we then crossed over to Rhode Island and joined General Spencer's expedition on Rhode Island where I served two months. Col. Smith commanded said Company on Rhode Island Capt Kimball being also present the whole of said times of service making in all thirteen months.
 1. I was born in Scituate in the State of Rhode Island in the year 1750.  2. My age is recorded in the town books for said town of Scituate.  3. When called into the service I lived in said Scituate, where I continued to live till the year 1803. When I removed to Southbridge which is now Southbridge aforesaid, where I have ever since lived and where I now live.  4. The first term of service of seven months I enlisted said the remainder I was drafted -  5. In addition to the names of officers stated above I can state that the first term of seven months service I was under General Sullivan, at Warwick Col John Walwell, b. I never received any discharge -  7. I can state the names of the Rev. Jason Park and Moses Plumpt. Esq. to whom I am known in my present neighbor hood who can testify as to my character for truth &c - I make some documents as evidence which are herewith appended - 
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 the day and year aforesaid.
Charles West
Attest. Abijah Bigelow, Clerk

We Jason Park a Clergyman residing in the Town of Southbridge and Moses Plimpton residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles West who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before me Linus Child Justice of the Peace  Jason Park Moses Plimpton
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jason Park who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Southbridge and that Moses Plimpton who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Southbridge and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit, and that the said Jason Park and Moses Plimpton live at such a distance from the Court that their attendance could not be procured without too much expense and inconvenience to the Applicant. John M. Williams, Jr. C.C. Clerk.
I Abijah Bigelow , 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 Charles West for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court this nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two .
And I further certify that Linus Child Esquire before whom Jason Park and Moses Plimpton were sworn to the truth of the above certificate by them signed, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and that the signature of said Child thereunto I believe to be in his own proper hand writing.
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk.
Charles West.

July 13, 1939.
Mildred Carver Carpenter 17 Medfield Street Worcester, Massachusetts.
BA-J/ILL Charles West S. 17772
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Charles West, a Revolutionary War soldier who received a pension in Southbridge, Massachusetts.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 17772, based upon service of Charles West in that war.
Charles West was born in the year 1750, in Scituate, Rhode Island, in which town his birth was recorded; the day of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown. He resided in Scituate at the time of the Revolutionary War.
Charles West enlisted and served at different times as a private in the Rhode Island troops, amounting in all to thirteen months; he was under Lieutenant Smith in General Spencer's Expedition, was in Captain Jonathan Hopkins' company from the spring of 1778, in General Sullivan's Expedition and was in the battle of Rhode Island, subsequently, under Captains Comer Smith, Stephen Kimball and Colonel Colwell.
The soldier moved from Scituate, Rhode Island, in 1803 to Sturbridge, later called Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Charles West was allowed pension on his application executed December 19, 1832, at which time he resided in Southbridge, Massachusetts. He made no reference to wife or children.
In September 1832, John West, of Gloucester, Providence

County, Rhode Island, stated that he served with Charles West in August 1778, but he did not state any relationship between them.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following data:
Charles West Certificate #15365 Issued June 10, 1833 Rate $43.33 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

21/8/
Charles West
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Charles West 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? yy 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? yy
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 one no one
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? yy
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? —
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.

Josiah Westcott of Situate County of Providence being of lawful age and engaged according to Law do Testify and Say. That I have been well acquainted with Charles West formerly of Situate but now of South Bridge for more than Thirty Years. I considered him to be a man of Truth and Veracity and he was always has been considered by People in general So far as I ever knew. or heard Said West was always considered to be a Revolutionary Soldier Josiah Westcott.
Providence in Situate September the 12 th A.D. 1832
Personally came Josiah Westcott and after being sworn to tell the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth gave the foregoing deposition which was taken at the Request of the Said Charles West to be used in obtain- ing a Pension
Before me
Abel Salisbury Jus t Peace

Providence - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations -
Providence ss I William R Watson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the county of Providence in said State, hereby certify, that Abel Salisbury within named is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Scituate in the county aforesaid - That he is duly empowered to administer oaths and take depositions - That the signature within purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of said Abel Salisbury and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of said Salisbury -
In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said court this eighteenth day of September 1833
W. R. Watson

Oliver Cornell's Report
[Faint handwritten mark or signature]

I Oliver Cornell of Glanville in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island of lawful age and ingaged according to law do testify and say that I was in the army of the revolution at Warwick in the State of Rhode Island and Charles West was with me in the service about three months at said Warwick under Capt. Cannon Smith and Capt. Stephen Hinsdell and the said West was with me in the service about one month at Warren in said State of Rhode Island the commanding officer. I do not recall and the said West was with me in the service in Gen. Spencer's expedition about two months Lieutenant Smith commanded the company and the said West was likewise with me in Gen. Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island one month at least and we was both in the battle in said expedition and I knew of said West being in the service at several times in an alarm Given September 14 th D 1832 Oliver Cornell
State of Rhode Island Providence ss at Packer September 14 th D 1832 Personally came Oliver Cornell Subscribed to this above Deposition and made solemnly to the truth of the same with further testimony in presence of me Oliver Cornell and that his testimony to me Almon Brainerd Justice Peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence ss. I William R Watson Clerk of the court of Common Pleas within for the county of Providence in said State, hereby certify that Calvin Brown within named, is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Foster in said county - That he is duly authorized to administer oaths and take depositions - That the signature within purporting to be his, is in the proper handwriting of said Brown and that full faith & credit can due to the official attestations of said Brown -
In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said court this 18 th day of September 1832
W. R. Watson

Depo te of John West
Anna
Anna Anna Anna
1811 1812 1813 1814 1815
1811 1812 1813 1814 1815

I John West of Gloucester in the County of Providence State of Rhode Island being duly sworn on oath do testify & say that I was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war & am now an applicant for a pension under the act of June 1832. I further say that in the Spring of 1778 I enlisted as a Soldier in Capt. Jonathan Hopkins Company 1st Livingston's regiment of Continental troops. I believe the regiment was stationed principally on Rhode Island & at Pantuxet R.I. we were in the battle on Rhode Island in August 1778. I continued in said Company & regiment seven months. I further say that I well know Chase, West formerly of Scituate in said County now of Southbridge in the State of Massachusetts. He was a Soldier with me in said Company & regiment during the whole of the aforesaid period of seven months.
John West
State of Rhode Island & Providence ss. In Gloucester this 15 th day of September 1832 before me personally appeared John West who being duly sworn on oath says that the above deposition by him signed is just & true in all its parts. I further certify that the said John West is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Attest
W. P. Brown Justice C. C. Pleas

State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
I WILLIAM R. WATSON, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the county of Providence in the State of Rhode-Island, do hereby certify, that Geo P Evans is a Judge of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record; that the signature to the annexed document purporting to be his, is in the proper hand writing of the said Evans ; and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of the said Evans
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at Providence this fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord 183 2
Wm R Watson

1939-July 13- Hist. to Melanch C. Carpenter - J.L.R.
17 772
INVALID.
File No. 17 772
Charles West
Bi New War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 401
[Arrangement of 1870.]

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF GENEALOGY
MILDRED CARVER CARPENTER SEVENTEEN MEDFIELD STREET WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS
May 19, 1939
United States Pension Bureau Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me whatever data you have referring to the following American Revolution Soldier: ✓ OK 32
Charles West of Charlton and Southbridge, Mass. Wife Huldah---- He died July 13, 1842 and records at the Worcester Court House filed with his estate settlement state that he was a Pensioner. He had one son named Charles and there was another man named George West who I believe to have been his son also. Doubtless there were other children. This Charles West probably moved to Southbridge after the Amer. Rev. as he is not listed in the volumes "Soldiers and Sailors in the Amer. Rev."
Will you please send also any data on Huldah( ) West, widow of Charles, above, if she obtained a pension after his death.
Yours sincerely,
Mildred Carver Carpenter