Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21468, for Uriah Saunders, Rhode Island

SERVICE
R. J.
Danders, Uriah
NUMBER _____
NUMBER S 21468
CONTENTS

21.303  Abiah Saunders  of Washington in the State of R. Island who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Burdick of the Regt commanded by Col. Foyes in the R. Island line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of - 80 - Dollars - 00 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Sept. 1833 and sent May 1834  France New Port R.I.  Arrears to the 14th of Sept. 1833 $200.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Mar '34 40.00  $240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Addams Clerk Book E Vol. 2 Page 120

Uriah 25 Saunders 253 B; B.L.
253

State of Rhode Island &c - county of Washington ss -
On this 24 th day of August AD 1832 Personally was present before me John H. Kenyon one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas being a court of record within & for the County of Washington Uriah Farners a resident of Hopkinton in the county of Washington State of Rhode Island aged 89 years who from bodily infirmity is unable to appear in open Court who being duly affirmed according to Law doth on his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - viz -
He was born April 29 th 1743 O. style in Westerly. but has no record of his birth, & lived in Hopkinton when he entered the service Has always resided there since the War - and this applicant further states that in September 1776 he was called to go on to Block Island to get off the stock & served one month as a private in Cap Thomas Welles company of Rhode Island Militia - to whose regiment the company belonged he does not know - and this applicant further states that in December 1776 he was drafted & served three months as a private at South Kingston in Cap Jesse Bendick's company H Col Joseph Moyes regiment of Rhode Island Militia - and this applicant further states that in March 1777 he was drafted to serve half of the time & continued so to serve until the end of the War which served under that draft more than two years as a private in different companies & different regiments, he recollects before under Cap Jesse Bendick Cap Uriah Crandell H Col Moyes & others & was in Spencer expedition in October 1777 & in Sullivan's in August 1778 was stationed most of the time in guarding the shores of Narragansett Bay -

in all the above he served his time out in the Rhode Island Militia & was honorably discharged, but never had a written discharge as he remembers -
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
affirmed to & subscribed the the day & year aforesaid Isaac his  mark Saunders
and I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and I further testify that the Nathan Barber Mosey Barber & Billings Burdick John H Kenyon Judge C.C.P.
who have signed the annexed depositions are residents of Hopkinton, are credible witnesses & that their evidences are entitled to credit & I further testify that the said Isaac is unable to attend court from bodily infirmity as aforesaid -
John H Kenyon Judge C.C.P.
State of Rhode Island &c Washington fc Clerk's office Court of Common Pleas
I Samuel Halse clerk of sd Court do hereby certify that John H Kenyon is a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within & for sd County and that the above is his true signature in his own proper hand writing -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of sd Court this 24th day of September A.D. 1837 SAM. HALSE

I Billings Burdick of Hopkinton aged 68 years affirmation  on oath do testify & say that I was a soldier in the revolutionary War & that I am knowing that Uriah Jamies served as he has stated in his declaration & thinks that he must have served more & know that he is a man of truth & veracity & that his statement is entitled to full credit
Billings Burdick
affirmed to before me this 24 th day of August 1832
John H. Kenyon J. G. G. G. 60 p.m.

I Nathan Barbour of Hopkinton R.I. aged 71 years on affirmation do depose & say that from Jan y 1777 I served two months as a soldier in the War of the Revolution at South Kingston in Cap Jesse Brindicks company Col Joseph Noyes reg t of R.I. Militia & I well remember that Uriah Saunders was in the same company & continued as long as I did. & I further
Nathan Barbour
affirmed to this 24 th day of August 1832
John H Kenyon Jud e C.C. pleas
I Moses Barbour of Hopkinton R.I. aged 75 years on affirmation do depose & say that in December 1776 I was called to serve three months at South Kingston in Cap Jesse Brindicks company Col Joseph Noyes reg t of R.I. Militia & I well remember that Uriah Saunders was in the same company & served three months in December & January & how much longer I cannot say -
Moses Barbour
affirmed to this 24 th day of August 1832
John H Kenyon Jud e C.C. pleas

Declaration of Uriah Saunders & Hopkinton

United States of America.
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretary's Office July 20. A 1833.
I certify that at the session of the General assembly of said State held on the first Wednesday of May last Joseph T Barber was elected Justice of the Peace for the town of Hopkinton in the county of Washington for the term of one year, and that he has been commissioned accordingly: as appears of record in this office.
Witness, Henry Bowen Secy.

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
John Brown Francis
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name "HENRY BOWEN" to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Prov- idence, this twentieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- three and of Independence the fifty- eighth ,
Henry Bowen Secy BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.
John Brown Francis

25339
• Miah Saunders
R. I.
Private 2 years
Adm'd
500
June 19, 1833
Hon. D. J. Pearce D. J. Pearce N. Port. R. I.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Uriah Sanders A.S.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Sep 1776. called - 1 Private Capt. Mills. Col  Forster 89. born in Mistery   Oct. " drafted - 3 " Capt. Durdaah Col  Roye entered the service in Hopkinton and now lives   March 77 " and continued to serve to the end of the War & served under 3 in said place Traditionary -   draft. under different officers more 3. Living witnesses   than 2 - know some of his service and all generally   credible  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; 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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
13 1833 85 1748

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Washington Sc } Clerk's Office Court Common Pleas & General Sessions of the Peace. —
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Courts aforesaid do certify Charles G Burdick Esq. whose certificate in his own proper hand writing is hereto prefixed is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Hopkinton in the County of Washington Legally chosen by the General Assembly. Commission by the Governor & Otherwise Qualified as the Law requires that full faith and credit ought to be given to his Attestation throughout the United States of America
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the Seal of the Courts aforesaid. This Thirty first day of May in the Year 1833
SAM l Helme Clk

We Thomas V Wells a Clergyman residing in Hop- kinton and Benjamin B Thurston also residing in said Hopkinton hereby certify and say that we are well acquainted with Ulrich Saunders who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration that we believe him to be 89 years of age 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.
Thomas V Wells
Benjamin B Thurston
Washington D.C. in Hopkinton 30 May 1839 Personally appeared before the above named Thomas V Wells and Benjamin B Thurston and made oath to the same and I further certify that said Thomas V Wells is a Cler- gyman residing in Hopkinton and that he and the said Benjamin also residing in said Hopkinton are credible witnesses and their statements in this to be credited
Charles C Burdick Justice Peace

FREE
L. Edward Esq. Pension Office Washington D. Columbia

20
unauthorized
of Mr. Saunders you will have - with survey. Please to act upon them as soon as signed yr obedient
Sister J. Pease
J. P. Edwards Esq
ear fr
M.

Revolution
21468
INVALID.
File No. 21468
William Saunders
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 552 .
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Rhode Island & c
Washington
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of Peace, Uriah Saunders who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service but according to his best recollection - he served as follows - viz -
He served one month on Black Island in September 1776 as particularly stated in his first declaration - } 1 to which he refers, as a private
He served three months as a private at South- Kingstown in Capt Bewick's company in & from } 3 December 1776, as particularly stated in said declaration
and he further states in explanation of his other service that in March 1777 he was drafted & served one half of time, until the end of the War - This service was all performed in the State of Rhode Island & principally in guarding the shores of Narragansett Bay from the incursions of the enemy, who had possession of Newport, three years from said March as near as he can remember. For the names of the officers under whom he served he served he refers to his said Declaration, he remembers them in particular, he served under others whose names he has forgotten - They were militia officers, and he was a private all the time
4. The carried over

From March 1777 to December of that year he served five months at least under said officer — 5
From January 1778 to December of that year six do 6
From January 1779 to December of that year six do 6
From January 1780 to December of that year six do — \frac{6}{27}
He served every other months as he stated in his first declaration, & he served twenty seven months at least and all as a private for which he claims a pension His term of service was always a month at a time except one which was three months as above stated. But from his age being now 90 years of age, he cannot remember all his officers — yet knows he served his country faith- fully over two years in the War of the Revolution, & therefore is entitled to a pension He has no documentary evidence or other witnesses except as annexed his first declaration
Witness Joseph T. Barber Uriah — his Saunders mark D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Washington in Hopkinton July 11th — 1833
Personally appeared before me the above named Uriah Saunders & made oath to the truth of the above statement
Joseph T. Barber justice peace