Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,069, John Wood, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.S.
Wood, John
S. 22,069
CONTENTS

10.375 Whitfield Island
John Wood
of Kent in the State of Delaware who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wilson of the Regt commanded by Col. Watermeyer in the Del. Militia were for 1 Year
Inscribed on the Roll of Whitfield Island at the rate of $40 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of April 1835 and sent to Whitfield Island
Arrears to the 14th of March 1835 $80.00 Semestral allowance ending 1 Sept. 1835 20.00 $100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1835 }
Recorded by A. H. Chapman Clerk Book 6 Vol. 2 Page 135

N o 9351
John Wood.
Print 1 year
Ad
papers not properly authenticated
Nov 13 1832
40
80
20
100
N. Whiting Esq. E. Greenwich R. I.

BRIEF in the case of  John Wood of the County of Kent  in the State of R. Island (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court,  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 83 years  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 1776 Dec r — 1 — Private Gen. Col. Waterman, Capt. Hudson   "77 Summer — 1 — drafted Capt. Gorton,   " Fall — 1 — do Capt. Austin - Col. Brown   "78 Winter — 1 — do Capt. Roy   " Spring — 1 — do same   " Summer Subs c 1 See here G. up Capt. Pierce   " " — 1 — drafted Sergt. Warren   "79 Winter — 2 — do Capt. Bennett   " " — 2 — do Capt. Bennington   "80 Winter — 1 — do Capt. Ladd  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? R. Island  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? W. Greenwich & County  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Deposition 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  No Sollicitor's Certificate 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

State of Rhode Island &c County of Kent ss
Court of Common Pleas, August Term A.D. 1832.
On this Twenty first day of August A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, John Wood, a resident of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, aged Eighty three 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. - That he was born at East Greenwich in the County of Kent and State aforesaid on the Eleventh day of April A.D. 1749. That when this claimant was yet a child his father moved to said Coventry, and this claimant lived with him there until he was fifteen years old, when he went to West Greenwich to live and where he lived when he entered in to the service of the United States. That afterwards and about two years after he first entered in to the service he moved to said Coventry and has resided there ever since. That his birth is recorded in the Records of said Town of East Greenwich. That in the Month of December 1776. when the enemy took possession of Rhode Island, this claimant was called out with the Militia in said West Greenwich, and served one Month at East Greenwich in a Company commanded by Capt. Stukely Hudson, in the Regiment commanded by Col. John Waterman. That in the Summer of the year 1777. he was drafted for the term of one Month, and served said term in a Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Gorton at Swerton, and then in the fall of the same year he was drafted again and served one month more at said Swerton under Capt. Jeremiah Austin. in the Regiment commanded by Col. Nathl. Brown. That in the Winter of the year 1778. he was called out in the Militia at said Coventry, he having removed from West Greenwich into said Coventry, under Capt. William Gray and

and served at Luidnesett neck for the term of one month and returned home. And in the Spring of the same year he was drafted and served one month more under the same Captain. That in the Summer of the year 1778. he served as a Substitute and was hired by Joshua Godfrey, for the term of one month on Rhode Island, under Capt. Wm. Pierce and immediately after he was drafted in the Militia of said Coventry for one month, and Joseph Weaver, who was Lieutenant commanded the company. We were in the battle on Rhode Island in Sullivan Expedition. That in the Winter of the year 1779 this Claimant served was drafted in the Militia of said Coventry, and served for the term of two Months under Capt. or Lieutenant Asaph Burnett, at the Luidnesett neck in North Kingstown. That afterwards he was called out and served two months in the same year, at two different times and under Capt. Burlingame, at Potowomut and Luidnesett on the Narragansett bay. And in the Winter of 1780 he served one month, at said Luidnesett neck, being drafted, in a company commanded by Capt. James Ladd. Making 12 months in the whole.
That he has no documentary evidence of discharge.
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.
John his Wood mark

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the
and that Ezekiah Bennett
who also signed the same are residents in the Town of Coventry in our said County and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, JOHN BROWN, Clerk of said 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 John Wood for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this
Fifth day of September in the year 1832
John Brown

I Hezekiah Bennett of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, do certify that John Wood of said Coventry was to my knowledge a Soldier in the Revolutionary war, that he served in a Company under Capt. Hudson, and also in a Company commanded by Capt. Gorton; but this Deponent not being in the same Company with the said Wood, he does not know how long he served, but supposes that he served a month each time, as the Drafts were usually for that term of time. And the said Wood was in the service under Capt. Roy, to my knowledge, as much as two months or more. That this Deponent saw the said Wood on Rhode Island in Sullivan's Expedition in a Company under the command of Joseph Weaver. That the said Wood also served in the same Company with this Deponent at Ludmesett Neck in the Winter of the year 1779 for the term of two Months. I also knew of his being in a Company, commanded by Captain Burlingame, but do not know how long. And I also think I have seen him at other times in the service, but do not recollect with whom he served other than as above stated.
John Wood Hezekiah X Bennett mark
Kent Jc. Court of Common Pleas August Term A.D. 1832
Sworn to in open court on the second day of the Term
John Brown. Clk

John Wood. 9357

Dep t . Benedict Colvins for John Wood

I Benedict Colvin of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island aged Eighty Six years do certify that I formerly was acquainted with John Wood of said Country and still have some acquaintance with him; that I believe him to be of the age of Eighty three years. That I know nothing against his character. and that it is reputed in the neighbourhood, that he was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and I have a knowledge of his being in the service some.
Benedict Colvin
State of Rhode Island } County of Kent } ss
at Coventry November 28 th AD 1832
Then the above Named Benedict Colvin personally appeared before Me - and Subscribed the aforesaid Affidavit in my presence and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the same. Said Deposition was reduced to writing in the presence of the Deponent -
The Character of the said deponent for Truth and Veracity is good
Witness J. S. Fillinghurst Just & Pleas
Went to The State of Rhode Island, Providence Plantations Bleaker Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Joseph J. Fillinghurst Esq. is a Justice of said Court, that the above is his proper signature, in his own hand writing
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at East Greenwich this 29 day of November in the year 1832
John Brown Clk

MS. 94
August 4, 1925.
Mrs. John E. Arnold, Anthony, Rhode Island.
Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S-22069, it appears that John Wood was born at East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island April 11, 1749 .
While residing at West Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island he enlisted in December 1776 and served as a private at various time when called upon until the winter of 1780 under Captains Stukely Hudson, Benjamin Gorton, Jeremiah Austin, William Roy, William Pierce, Joseph Weaver, Asa Bennett, Burlingame and James Ladd and Colonels John Waterman and Nathaniel Brown in the Rhode Island Troops. He was at the battle of Rhode Island.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 21, 1832 while residing at Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island.
There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

1925: Aug 4. / First to Mrs - John M. Arnold. m. 84
Revolution
22 069 INVALID.
File No. 22 069
John Wood Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index - Vol. 2 , Page 461
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Anthony R I June 8. 1925 Dear Cousin:
Will you kindly give me the record of service rendered by the following soldiers of 1775.
John Wood. Coventry Rhode Island
Deleb Briggs Jr. East Greenwich " "
James Wightman (or Whitman) North Kingstown " "
The dates of birth and death have not been found as yet as some family records lost.
You will very much oblige by so doing and address
Mrs. John M c Arnold Anthony R I.

N o 9351—
John Wood
N. Whiting Esq. E. Greenwich R. I.

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Wood 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? yes

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? no 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 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 And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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 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 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 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 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.