Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13,666, for Rufus Matteson, Rhode Island

SERVICE R.S.
Matteson Rufus Rhoda
NUMBER
W. 13.666
CONTENTS

Rhode = Island - 1820.
Rhoda Matteson, widow of Rufus Matteson, who died on the 6 th of September 1834. of Kent co y in the State of R. Island who was a private in the company commanded by Captain B. Green of the reg t - commanded by Col. Brown in the R. Island line for militia - 6 mos. private
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of De- cember, 1837, and sent to B. Corwell, Providence, R. Island.
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept. 1837 $130:00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th Mo. '38 = 10:00
$140:00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by S. A. Elliott, Clerk, Book 4, Vol. 2 Page 94.

State of Rhode Island &c County of Kent &c
On this 14 th day of November A D 1836 personally appeared before me John Ward one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County Rhoda Matteson a resident in - Country in said County aged 84 years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836 That she is the widow of Rufus Matteson who was a soldier of the Revolution that he was a private in Capt Benjamin Greene Company & Col Browns regiment of Rhode Island Militia he also served in other Companies but she cannot specify all his services & must therefore refer to the evidence of those who were knowing to his services for the sum of them. And she further declares that she was married to her husband the said Rufus on the 20 th day of November A D 1772 but she has no certificate of her marriage nor is there any record of it either

in any public or private record as she knows. She was married by Samuel Walk in the town of Coventry — and she further declares that her husband the said Rufus died on the 6 th . day of September 1832 and that she has remained unmarried ever since that period, wherefore she requests that the pension which would have belonged to her said husband if he may be granted to her —
Rhoda Mr Matteson mark
State of Rhode Island
Kent County ss
In Coventry the 12 th day of November 1836
Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am well acquainted the said Rhoda and from age and information she is unable to attend court. She is of good standing and of good creditability among her neighbors.
John Wood J. C. C. Pleas

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Peter Mateer a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Dec. 1775 1 mo. Rufus Green Pat Brown P.L.   Jan. Feb. 1776 1 mo. Ray Brown   Benedict Colburn   Apr. May 1776 1 mo. Langford Weaver   July 1776 1 mo. at Lincroft   1 mo. Benedict Colburn Archibald Hasson   1778 1 mo. Langford Weaver  
Battles engaged in, _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____ Date of application for pension, _____ Residence at date of application, _____ Age at date of application, _____
Remarks: _____ _____ _____
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Suspended See let to Benj. Cowell July 6. 1837

Providence Oct 16 1837
Sir
In answer to so much of your letter of July 6 that as relates to the claim of Rhoda Matteson widow of Rufus I have to say that the widow has set forth the reason why her late husband who died in 1834 did not make a declaration for a pension which I presume will be satisfactory. It will also be seen that both of her witnesses are dead but I believe they specified more than 6 months service. Her supplemental declaration is herewith enclosed & I have to request that whatever is justly due may be extended to her - I am respectfully yours &
J. L. Edwards Esq
Benjamin L. Russell

St Peter Minnerola
May 10 - 1913 -
Will you kindly give me a copy of the Pension record of Jacob Matteson of N. Jersey and also of Rufus Matteson of R. I. and oblige
Mrs Mary Roberts
815 S Minn Ave -
St Peter.
Minnerola -

New  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 13,666
Rhoda Matteson Widow of Emfus Matteson Pre Civil War
Act: July 4th 86
Index:—Vol. 6 , Page 4
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov 16 '99
Hon C. A. Russell
House of Reps.
1913 May 16 Hist. to Mrs. Mary Roberts. T. L. R.
1913 Dec. 8 Mrs. Mary T. Roberts that she has been furnished the record & c. Letter in A. F. 20,229 for Matteson.

Rhoda Matteson
V 1765
Rhoda Matteson
widow of Reefer.
R. S d
adm d
b. m. apru
20 d
no deduction
A. Lovell
Providence
R. 2 d

— 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 Bow- en, 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 eleventh
day of April in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- sevn
and of Independence the sixty- first
John Brown Francis
By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secy

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office April 11 th A D 1837.
I certify that at the session of the General assembly of said State on the first Wednesday of May last, John Wood was elected an associate Justice of the court of Common Pleas within the county of Kent - and Samuel Arnold a Justice of the Peace for the town of Coventry in said county - each for one year, and commissioned accordingly. as appears of record in this office.
Witness Henry Bowen Secy

I Benjamin Sweet of Coventry in the County of Kent being now 82 years of age on oath do testify & say that I was well acquainted with Rufus Matteson formerly acquainted with the R. of West Greenwich in said County a soldier of the revolution & husband of Rhoda Matteson who is now present before me - I well remember three monthly tours of duty which he performed. I was an enlisted soldier for three years from Jany 1777. but during the 1778 an regiment was stationed in Rhode Island It was during this year I remember & know that said Rufus served - once I think in the Spring & once in Sullivan's Expedition, in August & once afterwards - This Benjamin A Sweet mark Witness Samuel Arnold

Kent Jc In County August 15. 1835
Personally appeared before me the above named Benjamin Sweet and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed and I further certify that Benjamin Sweet is a credible witness in the premises and his deposition entitled to full credit
Samuel Arnold Justice Peace

Stephen Green of Country County of Kent and State of Rhode Island & being now 88 years of age on solemn oath do testify and say that I was acquainted with Rufus Matteson in the time of the Revolutionary war, who was the husband of Rhoda Matteson, & remem- ber his serving the following tours of duty in the revolutionary service viz In 1778 in December we served together one month at East Greenwich 15 miles from home there was an alarm given in consequence of the enemy anchoring in our bay — In 1776 in January or February we served another month at the same place In 1776 in April & May we served another month together at the same place — In 1776 in July we served another month at Quonquasset about 3 miles from East Greenwich — The first tour of duty was done in Capt Benjamin Green's Comp. Col. Nat. Brown's Regiment — The second tour we were in Capt. Roy's Company Col. Brown's Regiment, part of the time we were under Capt Roy & part of the time under Capt Benedict Colvin — The third tour at Quonquasset we were in Capt. Langford Weaver's Comp. and I do not recollect as we had any Col. but I recollect that Melvinton Waite was our Major. — In Sullivan's Expedition — we served together one month on Rhode Island in Capt Langford Weaver's Comp. I also recollect of serving with him one other month at Bristol but I do not remember the exact time; this time we were under Col. Archibald Kapon — our Capt was Benedict Colvin Stephen Green

Grant Co In County October 1 1886
Personally came before me the within- named Stephen Drum and made solemn oath to the truth of the within-deposition by him signed - and I further certify said Stephen Drum is a credible Witness and his deposition entitled to full credit
Samuel Arnold Justice of the Peace

Town Clerks office, Coventry March 8 th A.D. 1837.
I hereby certify, that I have examined the records of marriages in said Town of Coventry, but cannot find any record of the marriage of Rufus Matteson and Rhoda Andrews (now Rhoda Matteson) and I therefore conclude it is not recorded; and I further certify that I have reason to believe that many marriages take place in said Coventry, and have taken place for a great many years past which are not recorded; and I further certify that I have no doubt that said Rufus Matteson and Rhoda Matteson were married at the time stated in said Rhoda Matteson's declaration, she is a person of respectability, and has always sustained a fair character, and her statement entitled to full credit.
Samuel Arnold Town Clerk of Coventry R.I.
Witness at Coventry 11 March 1837
Personally came before me the above named Samuel Arnold made solemn Oath to the truth of the above certificate according to Law
Witness John Wood J. C. C. Probate

I Stephen Green of Country County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, being now 88 years of age, on solemn oath do testify and say, that I was present at the marriage of Rufus Matteson and Rhoda Andrews (now Rhoda Matteson), that said marriage took place in the fall of 1772, that they were married by Samuel Hall a justice of the peace, in said town of Country, And I further testify, that said Rufus Matteson died in 1832, and that said Rhoda Matteson has not intermarried, but now remains his widow Elizabeth Greene
Kent Je In Country March 7 th A D 1837. Personally came before me, the above named Stephen Green and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposi- tion by him signed; and I further certify said Stephen Green is a credible witness in the premises and his deposition entitled to full credit
Samuel Arnold Jus t of the peace

I Samuel Whaley of County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, aged 52 years, on solemn oath do testify and say, that Rufus Matteson late of County aforesaid, husband of Rhoda Matteson who is an applicant for a pension, died on the 6 th day of September 1831. And that said Rhoda Matteson has not intermarried, but continues the widow of the above mentioned Rufus Matteson. Samuel Whaley
Kent Is. In County March 7 th AD 1837, Personally came before me, Samuel Whaley above named, and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed; and I further certify said Samuel Whaley is a credible witness in the premises, and his deposition entitled to full credit.
Samuel Arnold Jus t of the peace

State of Rhode Island &c
County of Kintse
Rhoda Matteson of Coventry in said County of Kint widow of Rufus Matteson Maketh this further declaration in addition to the one already made, Being Called upon to give a reason why her Husband did not make a declaration in his life time for a pension his having died in 1834 - 1834 She says that her said husband was for as many as ten years before his death deranged in mind & so much so as to make his confinement necessary he was therefore wholly incapable of making any application And she further declares that Stephen Green & Benjamin Sweet her witnesses are now both dead But she believes they testify- ed her Husband's services correctly in their depositions And she further declares that she was married before the War. But there is no record of her Mar- -riage either Publick or Private But it was duly performed by witnesses that were present,
Rhoda her Matteson mark
State of Rhode Island &c
Kint County ss
In Coventry 5 th Sept. 1837
Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am well acquainted with the said Rhoda Matteson & believe her to be of good credibility & from age and infir- -mities is unable to attend Court
Witness John Wood J. C. C. P. has

State of Rhode Island &c
County of Kent ss September 5 th 1837
At Coventry ~ This may certify that I have been personally acquainted with Mr Rufus Matteson formerly the husband of Rhoda Matteson an applicant for a Pension I have known him before his death for about thirty years & he was for the greatest part of that time been deranged in mind and for the last ten or fifteen years of his life he was wholly incapable of transacting any business, whatever he being so much deranged in mind that his confinement was actually necessary for the safety of the children & family Witness John Wood J.B. & Has
Rhoda Matteson

Rev. War Section.
December 8, 1913.
Mrs. Mary A. Roberts, S. Minn. Avenue, St. Peter, Minn.
Madam:-
In response to your letter dated the 28 th ultimo, and received the 1 st instant, you are advised that the record of Rufus Matteson W. F. NO. 13, 666, Rev. War, was forwarded you May 16, 1913. It is not the practice of this Bureau to furnish more than one such statement to the same person.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.