Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 620, Peleg Wightman, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
R. l.
Wightman, Pleg Bannah
W 620
B.L. Wt 26062-160-55
CONTENTS

27197 Rhode Island
Peleg Wightman of Greenwich in the State of R.I. who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Holden of the Reg t commanded by Colo Cornell in the R.I. line for 12 Months private
Inscribed on the Roll of — R.I. at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 d day of July 1834 and sent to Nathan Whiting Esq r East Greenwich
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $ 120. Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 th Sep " 20 $ 140
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk Book 6 Vol. 2 Page 136

1961 Rhode Island Hannah Wightman widow of Peter Mightman who served in the Revolutionary war as a Private R.I. Line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1815
3 rd February 1833 Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Sept 33 and sent to
Anthony Tarbox Coventry R.I. Island
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act July 29, 1815 , Page 36 Vol. W
Feby 3 rd 33
1833

176188 et et mario
June 23 1855
Stannard Wightman via Peleg Wightman.
Priv
No 2662 No 2663 No 2664 No 2665 No 2666 No 2667 No 2668 No 2669 No 2670 No 2671 No 2672 No 2673 No 2674 No 2675 No 2676 No 2677 No 2678 No 2679 No 2680 No 2681 No 2682 No 2683 No 2684 No 2685 No 2686 No 2687 No 2688 No 2689 No 2690 No 2691 No 2692 No 2693 No 2694 No 2695 No 2696 No 2697 No 2698 No 2699 No 2700
}
Rev. Isaac
Pension
W: 160 ac, May 16/57
B. B. W.
Anthony Jacob 14 or 15 James, Ulster

State of Rhode Island County of Kent — } for —
On this Twentieth day of June A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Five, Personally appeared before me Joel M. Sprague, Public Notary within and for the County and State aforesaid — Hannah Wightman aged Eighty nine years seven months & eighteen days, now residing in the town of Warwick in said State, but lately a resident in the town of Coventry in said State, who being duly sworn according to Law, declares that she is the Widow of Poley Wightman deceased, who was a prisoner of the Revolutionary War, for the evidence of the facts thereof she begs leave to refer to the papers and documents on file in the Pension office at Washington. She further states that she was Married to the said Poley Wightman on the twelfth day of February A.D. 1813.1813. by Rev. David Curtis, Pastor of Warwick & Coventry Baptist Church, that her name before said Marriage was Hannah Wood, that her said husband died at East Greenwich in said State, on the fifteenth day of November A.D. 1841. And that she is now a widow and a prisoner of the United States under the act of February 3rd 1853. at the Rate of Forty dollars per Annum.
She Makes this declaration for the purpose of Obtaining the County Land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855.
Hannah mark X Wightman
We Henry Whitman and Alfred Colvin, residents of Warwick in the State of Rhode Island, upon our oath declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Hannah Wightman in our presence and that we do believe from the appearance and statements, and from our own personal knowledge of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, Henry Whitman Alfred Colvin

The foregoing declarations and affidavits were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year afore written; And I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim —
Joel M. Spencer
Public Notary
State of Rhode Island &c,
County of Kent — ss
Office of the Court of Probate, in the Town of Coomtry in the County and State aforesaid — I Anthony Tarbox — Clerk of said Court and keeper of the seal thereof, a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Joel M. Spencer, before whom the claimant and affiants appeared and was sworn, and who certified the same, was at the date thereof, a Public Notary, within and for said County of Kent, duly commissioned and sworn, and officially acting in said office, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine —
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Coomtry this Twentieth day of June A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Five —
Anthony Tarbox
Clerk of Probate

Declaration to be enclosed

State of Rhode Island and Plantations —
County of Kent ss
I Morris M Evans Clerk of the Supreme Court within and for said County do certify that George A Brayton whose name is subscribed to the annexed Declaration is one of the associate Justices of said Court duly qualified as such and full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such associate Justice and further that the signature purporting to be his I believe to be genuine —
In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at East Greenwich this third day of Augt. AD 1853
Morris M Evans Clerk

State of Rhode Island & Co
County of Kent ————— 3 rd ss
On this twenty third day of April A D 1853
Personally appeared before Me George A. Brayton One of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Said State. Hannah Whitman a resident of the Town of Coventry in the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty Seven years - who first being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath Make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 rd of February 1853, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of Peleg Wightman, that after the passage of the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832, the said Peleg applied for and obtained a pension under said act at the rate of forty Dollars per year payable at the Pension agency in Providence Rhode Island that he served as a private in the Militia of Rhode Island, in the war of the Revolution, and for proof of such service, she refers to the declaration of the said Peleg and the accompanying papers on file in the pension office; She further declares that she was Married to the said Peleg Wightman on the 12 th day of February 1813 - ; that she has the original certificate thereof signed by David Curtis which she hereto annexes, that though the name therein is spelled Peleg Whitman, it is pronounced in the same way as if spelled Wightman, and is the same name; that her said husband died the 15 th day of November 1841; that she was not married to him prior to eighteen hundred, but at the time

above stated; she further declares that she is now a widow -
In presence of Geo. A. Brayton
Hannah her  X  mark Wightman
Subscribed and sworn to on the day and year first above written by the said Hannah Wightman and I certify that from infirmity and old age she is unable to appear in court. I further certify that I have no interest in the result of this claim
Geo. A. Brayton Official Judge of the Supreme Court of said State

This may certify that on February 12, 1813 Mr. Pileg Whitman & Miss Hannah Wood both of Warwick, R.I. were law- fully joined together by me David Hunter Pastor of Warwick & Coventry Baptist Church

31280 Pelag Wightman's Application for a Pension Nathan Whiting Agt E. Greenwich. R.I.
Adm d 12 M Private
Gap Holder Colo. Cornell
Nathan Whiting Esqr East Greenwich R.I.
admitted

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. County of Kent ss
on this Thirty first day of May A. 1834. Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate of the Town of East Greenwich in the County of Kent aforesaid now in Lepsion, Peleg Wightman, a resident of said East Greenwich in the County and State aforesaid, 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 7 th 1832, viz. That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. That he was born at Warwick in said County of Kent, on the first day of January A. 1762. where he resided during the Revolutionary war, and until some time after the peace, when he removed to Cranston in the County of Providence in said State, and lived there a number of years, and then removed back again to said Warwick and lived there until the year 1817. when he removed to East Haddam in the State of Connecticut and resided there six years, and afterwards removed back to said War- wick and lived there three years, and then removed to said East Greenwich, where he has ever since resided. That his age is recorded in the Town Records of the Town of Warwick. That he was enrolled in a Company of Militia in said Warwick in the winter of the year 1778. and was drafted and served in the course of that year not less than four months. That he served one month of the time on his own Account, under Captain Anthony Holden, at old Warwick so called, in the regiment commanded by Col. Cornell, and one month as a Substitute for his brother Daniel Wightman, in the Spring of that year. And he was drafted and served one month in the summer

Summer on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's Expedition under Capt Thomas Rice, Col. Thomas Holden com- manded the Regiment. and he served there during the year And one Month in the part of the year at old Warwick and Warwick neck, in the fall of the same year, under the said Capt. Thomas Rice. That in the year 1779. He served Three Months at said Warwick in the the Company commanded by the said Thomas Rice; one month of which time he was a substitute for his father, and also he served one month in the same year at Bristol in Capt. Squire Miller's Company; he believes that Col. Waterman commanded the Regi- ment. That in the year 1780. he served not less than four months, three months of the time at old Warwick and Warwick neck, under the afore- said Capt Squire Miller; and one month on Rhode Island under Capt. Allen Johnson in Col. Thomas Tillinghast's Regiment. Making in the whole twelve months service in the Militia as a private soldier, for which he claims a pension. That he has no discharge or other documentary evidence. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pen- sion or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Phy Wightman
Sworn and subscribed in open court } the day and year aforesaid
James Miller Probation Clerk

I Benjamin Carpenter of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy three years, do hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with Pels Wightman of East Greenwich in the County of Kent from the commencement of the Revolutionary War and ever since that period. That he lived in said Warwick during the war and was a soldier in the Militia. That I served with him one month at old Warwick, so called at old in the winter or spring of the year 1778. in a company commanded by Capt Anthony Holden, in Colonel Cornell's Regiment; and also one month in the summer of the same year on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's Expedition under Capt Thomas Rice in Col. Thomas Holden's Regiment. These are the only times that I recollect serving with him, but I believe he did as much duty in the war as the rest of the Militia, and never heard any thing to the contrary.
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid
Benjamin Carpenter
James Miller Probate Clerk
I Matthew Price of West Greenwich in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, aged Seventy nine years, do hereby certify that I lived in Warwick in the County of Kent aforesaid in the time of the Revolutionary War; and that I was well acquainted with Pels Wightman who also lived in said Warwick; That I served with him in the Militia at one or more times in old Warwick in Capt. Thomas Rice's company; and also in the same company with him on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's Expedition in Col. Thomas Holden's Regiment. And that I also served one month with him at Bristol in Capt. Miller's company. That the said Wightman lived in said Warwick during all the war & did duty whenever called upon as this deponent believes.
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid
Matthew Price mark
James Miller Probate Clerk

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 before named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. - And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Benjamin Carpenter, who has signed the preceding Affidavit, is a resident of Warwick in the County of Kent, and that Matthew Price, who has also signed an Affidavit on the preceding page, is a resident of West Greenwich in the County of Kent, and that they are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I James Miller, Clerk of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peleg Wightman, for a pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this thirty first day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & thirty four.
James Miller

Peleg Wightman. W.F. 620
A list of soldiers of the 1 st co. of Cranston has been removed from this claim in order that it may be sent to the War Dept.
S.C.A.
Dec. 14, 1910
Sent to the War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913

Deleg Whitman I HEREBY certify, that Deleg Whitman of Cranston, is a Member of the Independent Company called the CRANSTON BLUES, and is equipped according to Law and the Regulations of said Company.
Witness James Parkerson Com. of said Company.
Cranston, July 4 th D - 1800

Peleg Whittman & Elisha Williams Agreement

An agreement made by and between Ileg Whiteman and Elisha Williams both of Cranston in the County of Providence in the County of Providence whereas the said Whiteman have sold unto Daniel Baker a small farm and have given a Deed thereof unto his son Samuel Baker for which I have taken said Williams Paymaster and he hath given me one note for the payment of the same and we the said parties have agreed to lodge said note in the hands of John Burton there to remain for the space of two years from the twenty fifth Day of March 1798 and whereas it is expected that the creditors of Elisha Whiteman are going to Invalidate the Deed by which I held said Land from my father and to prove it to be a fraudulent Deed and if it should on trial be proved to be such a Deed whereby Samuel Baker could not hold said Land then the said Burton is hereby ordered to deliver said note unto Daniel Baker and said note to become his property and in case the Deed should prove to be a good Deed then to deliver up said note unto the said Whiteman a a a a a and it is further agreed that if a Law Suit should be commenced in order to destroy said Deed and if it should not be complicated when the two years above mentioned shall be expired then said note not to be given up until it shall be finally finished In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this Seventeenth Day of May in the year of our Lord 1798 a
witness John Burton Rufus Burton
Ileg Whiteman Elisha Williams

We Martin S. Whitman and Russell Chase both of the Town of Coosbury in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, Testify and say that we are severally well acquainted with Hannah Wightman whose Declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of February 1853 - accompanies this affidavit. That we have severally known the said Han- nah Wightman, ever since her intermarriage with the said Pelay Wightman as stated in her declaration - that she is now a Widow and the Widow of the said Pelay Wightman. And we also Testify that we have no interest whatsoever in the result of her claim - Dated at said Coosbury this 3rd day of August A.D. 1853 -
Martin S. Whitman -
Russell Chase
The above affidavit of Martin S. Whitman, and Russell Chase, was Subscribed and sworn to on this 3rd day of August A.D. 1853
Before Me - Joel M. Spencer Public Notary

Hartford May the 5. 1814
Honored father. I take this opportunity to inform you of our health which is good at present hoping these few lines will find you and yours enjoying the same blessing we arrived there well on Thursday about four o'clock and our goods on Friday about five in the afternoon we had very good luck and had nothing broke nor rubbed in the least fraction we like very well indeed George says he wants to see his grandfather and grandmother I have got acquainted with a good many of the neighbors and they appear to be very clever people indeed I am now to work on the wheel and have got it about half done we have not raised our building yet but expect to raise it in about a fortnight we seem to get along very well yet — Pearce has washed his finger very bad indeed yesterday — I want to hear from you all very much indeed you must write the first opportunity give my respects to all inquiring friends So no more at present I remain your affectionate Son — Henry Whitman

Letter from the Son to the Father —
Mr.
Deleg Whitman
Warwick at the Roger Williams factory
Rhode Island

Coventry R.I. May 2nd 1853— To the Pension Agent at Washington,
Dear Sir— I herewith enclose the declaration of Hannah Wightman, the widow of Peleg Wightman who was a pensioner, for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of Congress of the 3rd of February 1853. I also enclose the original Certificate of the Marriage of said Peleg & Hannah by David Curtis, in which said Certificate you find the surname spelled by the Clergyman, Whiteman as it is always pronounced, and I believe at the present time always spelled even by Members of the same family— And as corroborative evidence of the identity of the person of said Peleg Wightman, I herewith enclose affidavits of two persons who were present at the Marriage of said Peleg & Hannah; and I also enclose sundry other old papers which belonged to said Peleg, which you will please receive as further corroborative tes- timony of the identity of the said Peleg— viz. an agreement of said Peleg, with Elisha Williams, in the draft of which the surname is spelled Whiteman— a Highway district, a certificate of Membership of said Peleg in an independent Company of Militia; a list of soldiers of the first Company in Cranston, an account with the Hope Furnace Co. with said Peleg, a note of John Whiteman to said Peleg— a letter from Henry Whiteman to his father the said Peleg; I have many other old papers of said said Peleg—
This same Peleg Wightman was married three times, the first wife was Mother of Henry above named; My first wife was his daughter by his second wife; and his last wife the said Hannah has no children, and has lived with me since the death of her husband the said Peleg—
The Agent in his communication will please direct to Han- nah Wightman Coventry R.I. care of this subscriber— Anthony Farbox

I Casey Wood of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island - Depose and say that I am acquainted with Hannah Wightman of country in said County of Kent, an applicant for a pension; and that I know her previous to her marriage that she was Married on the 12 th day of February A.D. 1813 - to Peleg Wightman; that I was present at the Marriage; that they were Married by Eldr David Curtis; that I was acquainted with the said Peleg prior to his Marriage; that the said Peleg was a pensioner at the time of his death at the rate of $100. per year, as I was informed, previous to his death by him -
Casey Wood
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, on this Twenty sixth day of April A.D. 1853, by the said Casey Wood, and I certify that I have no interest in the result of the claim.
Joel M. Spencer
Public Notary
I Serena Cadey of Warwick in the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island, Depose and say that I was present at the Marriage of Hannah Wightman, (who is an applicant for a pension) with Peleg Wightman - They were Married in February 1813. by Elder David Curtis, I was knowing that said Peleg was a Pensioner at the time of his death -
In presence of Joel M. Spencer
Serena X Cadey mark
Subscribed and sworn to, before me on this Twenty sixth day of April A.D. 1853, by the said Serena Cadey, and I certify that I have no interest in the result of the claim.
Joel M. Spencer
Public Notary

Rhode Island Virginia 7/18/32
PAID
Hon. J. L. Edwards, Commr of Pensions
Washington City
4 m 3 4 78 79 80

Wightman

Brief in the case of Hannah Wightman, widow of Pelag Kent County and State of Rhode Island act 3 d February 1853.
Claim, ("original," X for increase.)
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under the act of June 7. 1832
Parol proof of marriage - certified to be credible
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Anthony Tarbox Esqr
Coventry
Kent County
Rhode Island
Name and residence of Agent
P. G. G.
Examining Clerk.

Newport
Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas April 29 th 1853
This will certify that Rev. Mr. Spencer of Coventry in the County of Newport, was elected by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island at their May Session A.D. 1852, a Public Notary authorized and empowered to take deposi- -tions and to execute all the duties pertaining to said Office and to my knowledge has received from the Governor of this State his Commission and has been engaged to the same. In testimony thereof I have affixed the Seal of said Court this twenty ninth day of April A.D. 1853.
William Bedfish Clerk of said Court

1798 Betsy Whitman To R. S. Hopkins £ D 6 July To Sayth . . . . . £ 6.3 To Sayth . . . . . 6.3 1798 June 28 To P r Ream . . . . . 1.4 July - 6 To Sayth . . . . . 7. 10 To P r Ream . . . . . 1.4 24 To P r Ream . . . . . 2.8 1799 Jan - 4 To P r Ream . . . . . 1.4 £ 1 6 2 10 To an A. on P r Ream £20 £ 6 £ 7 6 2 Balance due Whitman 7 17 6 which is Credited Michael Williams in Turner's books £ 15 3 8
1798 By Leasing 47.5.1 cro P r Ream £ 14 3 7 By do — 20.1 — See  Edw 157 — 15 7 By do — 20 — One 1795 £ 4 6 £ 
    £ 15 3 8
Situate 22 May 1799 E. P. Swann Hopkins SAH 

District Relg Wightman 1795.

To M r Peleg Wightman one of the Surveyors of the Highways in the Town of Cranston Greeting. —
You being Chosen and Stated to the office aforesaid for the ensuing year are to have the Care of the following Highway & Bridges thereon Erected for mending & keeping in Good Repair that is to say, Beginning at Pumpstreet, from thence Westward, on the Road Leading by Dorcas Knight's untill it comes into the Sunnys Road so called, to have under your Command for the purpose aforesaid, the following
Parsons Deoz. — John Wightman Sarah Remington Joseph Knight Elisha Wightman William Knight Jacob Pinkney, William Collins Jun n . Abel Carter. — Jonathan Knight Job Manchester Jabez Stone
Given under my hand & order of the Town Council of said Cranston, June 7 th 1795. — N o Knight C. Clerk

Hannah Wightman wife of Elez. Wightman Chy to R. Isl. Ex. Mar 18 th /56

1961-535
Hannah Wightman, widow of Pelig Wightman, a pensioner of the Revolution, made her declaration, and application for a land warrant under act of Congress, in June last, and has heard nothing from the Department since. She now draws a pension of $40 per annum. Was married to Wightman subsequent to the year 1800. Is poor, and about 90 years old.

1825 Washington

Pension Office, Sept. 12/53
Sir,
Please certify the time to which the within named pensioner was paid; and, if in your power, the date of his death.
Very respectfully Your Most Servt
S. Cole For the Commr.
J Burt Esqr 3d Auditor Present
(See other side.)

Teleg Wightman, act 7 th June 1832, $40.00. p. an. Died 15 th Nov. 1841, Paid to his death.
F. Bush Auditor.

App d of Hannah Wightman Wightman widow of
Peleg - Kent Co
R. Island 32
27497
Act 3 d Feb y : 1853.
Rev y :
Adm d $40 per annum Commencing 3 d Feb. 1853 Anthony Tarbox
Coventry Kent Co:
R. Island
Pension Office, Official 25
J. L. Lydon Paul - agree 15 Nov 1848

Coventry April 28 A 1820 For Value Received I promise to pay Pelag Whilman or order five Dollars on Demand with interest till paid as witness my hand ————— John Whatman-

No 15.84 1868 Hannah Whedon widow of Pileg. R. Island
Let to Anthony Sartor July 26/53
Act Heby 8/53.

✓ 26,062
3 Ves AWS

Coventry R.I. June 21 st 1855
Dear Sir,
Herewith I enclose the declaration of Mrs. Hannah Wightman, in order to obtain a Land Warrant for 160 acres of Land; She is destitute not having anything save a little old furniture except her 40 dollar pension, is now living upon her friends, who are also poor - She is very old and if she can get her Land warrant before she dies it will do considerable towards paying for her support - It was very unjust in her not receiving the pension from the date of her husband's death, she only failed in consequence of not being Married quite early enough, she was none the less worthy of the bounties of Government, (I don't speak of this to find fault, she receives all the Law would give her) If it is consistent with your rule of proceeding, I should be very glad you would take her case into early consideration, and if anything further is needed by way of proof in order to obtaining the Warrant please inform me soon -
and Oblige
Yours very Respectfully
Anthony Tarbox
S. P. Waldo Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

Hannah Wightman Wid of Peleg
#176,198
26,062-160

Coventry R.I. Dec. 24 th 1855- L. P. Waldo Esq. Commissioner.
Dear Sir.
I yours of June 23 rd last acknowledging the receipt of the claim of Mrs. Hannah- Wightman, Widow of Peleg Wightman (now a Pensioner) for Bounty Land under Act of March 3 rd 1855- Mailed Sept 4 1855- was in duly received. but since which I have not heard any thing, Will you be so good as to answer me on receipt of this, the result of the claim- And whither any thing further by way of evidence is required- or whither you have not come to it on account of the numerous application.
Very Respectfully yours
Anthony Parbof

WIDOW, &c.
No. 620
Hannah Wightman Widow
Abel Wightman Rev. Rev. War
Act: Feb. 3, 1853
Index:—Vol. M. , Page 328
[Arrangement of 1870.]