Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38,924, for Richard Marven, Rhode Island

SERVICE
Navy (R.S.)
Marven Richard or Marvin
NUMBER
S 38924
CONTENTS

14.197 R Rhode Island
Richard Mannin or Marven of Providence in the state of R. Island Brig d Warren who was a Lieut. arnt in the regiment commanded by Col l Hopkins of the U.S. Navy line, for the term of 11 months  R.I.
scribed on the roll of Rhode Island at the rate of - 20 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 st of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th of Sep r 1819 and sent to Benjamin Cowell Esqr
Providence, Rhode Island
Arrears to 4th of September 1819  340.66
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 th Mar: 1820  120.
17 Jan / '20  $ 460.66
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of Sep r 1819 and sent to Benjamin Cowell Esqr Providence, Rhode Island 17 Jan / '20

Richard Moran
Proof of his for- mer service under Com- modore Hopkins required. His Deposition of the credible witness will be received.
not on Rolls

To the honorable Judge Howell of the District of Rhode Island Richard Marven of Providence formerly an Officer in the Revolution begs leave to state the different times he serv'd in that War. That on the 10th of May 1776 he receiv'd a third Lieutenants Commission on board the Continental Frigate Warren then building in Providence,
In this Ship I serv'd from May 10th 1776 till April 3d. 1777. a period of almost 11 Months. at which time I was dismiss'd from the service for a complaint I made to Congress against Commodore Hopkins at that time Commander in chief of the American Navy.
And on or about the Middle of April 1779 I receiv'd a second Lieutenants Commission in the Continental Sloop Argo under the command of Silas Talbot and on the 4th of November I requested and obtain'd an honorable discharge, after serving a little more than 6 Months.
The above together with my Discharge is respectfully submitted to your Honor's consideration by Richard Marven.
Who being old and Indigent thinks he has a just claim to his Country's assistance in his old age
Providence, State of Rhode Island April 4th. 1818.
Rhode Island District April 4. 1818.
Personally appeared the sd Richard Marven, and made Sacmn oath to the truth of his declaration foregoing: in testimony whereof I have here set my hand, and caused the Seal of the District Court for the District to be hereunto affixed. David Howell District Judge.

I saw it in the journals of the old Congress - this recite from memory
"We believe that Congress has no power to issue for John Hope an injunction.
Devrik Hovak
Rhode Island District 2
In Providence this 4 th day of April 1818 - I hereby certify that the signature of the Judge and the seal of the District Court of the United States for said District are hereto affixed Witness Benjamin Russell Clerk of said Court
Reichskanzler Münster

Richard Marvin 14. 197.
March 10 th 20
Coast Dr.
Can

United States of America
Rhode Island District
Special Court of Common Pleas 21 July 1820
Providence ss
On this twenty first day of July 1820 Personally appeared in open Court being a court of record within & for said County Richard Marvin age 70 years residing in the Town of Providence in said County & District, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary War as follows That he served in the Navy on board the frigate Warren. Eleven Months. Captain John Hopkins Commandant. — as a Lieutenant That he made a previous declaration on the 4 th day of April 1818 and that he has received a certificate for a Pension being No 14497. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March One Thousand eight hundred and eighteen — And that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any other manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the eighteenth day of March One Thousand eight hundred and eighteen: That I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. —
Richard Marvin
A Schedule of Property & income (necessary clothing & bedding excepted) of Richard Marvin — One small wooden house 40 years old, standing on a lot on the skirt of the Town of Providence containing \frac{1}{5} of an acre valued together as One hundred dollars. For some time after his discharge from the Navy he taught a School, he is afflicted with Asthma & Rheumatism Age & infirmities, disqualifies him from pursuing any kind of business. He is seventy years of age has a Wife as old & infirm as himself and no other family. — That he owes to different persons thirty dollars forty seven cents — His furniture is 9 Maple Chairs $1.25

6 old Chain $1-02 on table $1- One small Do 50c- One chest of drawers $1-50 One old desk $1- One grindstone 20c- One old Prop. kettle $1 One Iron Pot 37c- One small Iron kettle 25c- One old bed Pan 30c One Tea kettle 37c- One Priderin 15c- One Small Looking Glass 75c One old Musket & bayonet $2- One cutlass used in the war 50c- Amounting in all to twelve dollars sixteen cents
Richard Marrow
Sworn to us in Open Court on the 21 st day of July 1820
Dexter Randall Clk
The Small old house forty years old unfinished no cellar and out of repair with a small lot on which it stands ————— $100.
  furniture  —————  12.16      112.16    Debts  —————  90.47      $21.69  
Valued at the above sum aforesaid of One hundred & twelve dollars 16 cents —
Wheeler Martin , C.S. CC Pleas
Rhode Island District
Clerks office of the Court of common Pleas N 1820
I Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Providence do hereby certify that the foregoing oath (the Schedule thereto annexed) are truly copied from the record and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the Court of said Court, that the Amount in Value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is One hundred and twelve dollars and sixteen cents — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on this Twenty four day of July 1820
Witness Dexter Randall Clerk of said Court

BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
MAY 28 1920
19 —
Chief of Rea War Section Sir:
I have this day received from Miss Kate S. Garry draft No. cash for $ 15 / 100 requesting post-office  copies addresses as per letter herewith.
Photos delivered to Miss Garry re: Person I said not are
Very respectfully, W. Campbell Chief of Division. J. H. H.

✓ cash 15¢ from Miss Kate S. Curry of 1020 Monroe St. N.W., Washin., D.C., for copy of 1 p.g. from Rev. War claim of Richard Marven, S. 7.38924-
Proctor Law 5/27/20
No receipt required

BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
MAY 26 1920
19 
Chief of Pen War Section Sir:
I have this day received from Miss Kate Slurry draft No. cash for $ 45 100 requesting post office addresses as per letter herewith.
Photo delivered to Miss Curran Mr. Pearson Laud J.W. Wolf AW
Very respectfully,
W. Campbell Chief of Division.
J.H.

No. _____
over
Date May 26 1920
Richard Marven No. 838924
Rev. War
Photographic copies wanted of 3 pieces, consisting of 4 pages.
over
Remarks:
W. H. Wilson Exf. W. F. Waite Chief Recrd Div.
2094 C. F. Dennis Low Clerk.
Serial _____

2 copies of letter of July 3, 1879 signed Richd Marvey 1 " " " " July 21, 1880. " " " 1 " affidavit of May 22, 1879 " Benj Tallman.

due Cash 45¢ from Miss Kate S. Curry of 1020 Monroe St. N.W., Washington, D.C., for copies of 3 pages from Rev. War claim of Richard Marven, S. F.
38924
FINANCE DIVISION
MAY 28 1920
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Proctor Law 5/26/20
No receipt required.

MUNICIPAL COURT OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.
(Exercising Probate Jurisdiction.)
JOSEPH E. SPINK, Judge.
EDWARD FIELD, Clerk.
CITY HALL, Nov 30 1897
For Commission of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to request such information as you may be desirous to furnish me regarding
Richard Mason Lieutenant in the Naval Service and a Revolutionary Pensioner from Rhode Island.
Yours very truly Edward Field

11/97 - To Mr. Edward Field - Providence, R.I.
1920 May 26. Photostat copies delivered to Miss Kate Curry in person. au.
Amalia
Rev
XXXXXX
Navy
File No.
38924
Richard Mason Lieutenant Frigate "Warren" Revolutionary
Act March 18. 1818
Index: Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Providence State, Rhode Island
May 27. 1819
To all whom it may concern
This is to certify that I William Russell of said Providence was in the year 1775 One together with Nicholas Cook then Gov r of s d State, Nicholas Brown, John Brown, Joseph Brown, Joseph Russell, John Brins Clarke, Joseph Nightingale, Jacob Brown, Daniel Gillingham, Thomas Greene Welcome Arnold - Appointed by Congress to Build two frigates - say the Warren and Providence in this Town - and to engage and recommend the Officers to Government for appointment That on the 10 th of May 1776. Richard Marcy was engaged by said Committee to the Office of third Lieut d on board the frigate Warren - In which Office he continued almost eleven months - being discharged the 3 rd of April 1777 He is now sixty nine years of age & in very indigent circumstances to my knowledge -
Witness my hand
William Russell
The only surviving member of the above said Naval Committee
27 May 1819 sworn to before
Benjamin Caneel
Commission dis d Lieut N.T. but

Adm o
Providence, R. I.

Providence 5 July 1819
Sir
I herewith again enclose the application of Richard Moraeus for a pension together with additional evidence & explanations
respectfully & am most ob't serv't
Benjamin Lowell
Howe Sept 1819

Providence, State of Rhode Island June 1819
To all whom it may concern.
We the subscribers being well acquainted with Richard Marven do hereby certify that he is in reduced circumstances, infirm in body, nearly 70 years of age and past labour; & that he stands in need of his country's assistance for his support.
Richard C. Knight
James Pitney

Providence, State of Rhode Island May 22 d 1819.
To all whom it may concern.
This is to certify that I Benjamin Tallman Ship Builder of this town have been an inhabitant of it ever since the year 1768 and have been a near neighbor and well acquainted with the Claimant Richard Marven, and that in the fall of 1775 I was appointed by the Naval Committee to build the Warren Frigate in this Town & that on the tenth of May 1776 the said Richard Marven came on board as Third Lieutenant of that Ship, being engaged by said Naval Committee whose names were as follow.
The Hon. Nicholas Cooke Esq r . then Governor of the State.
John Brown Joseph Nightingale Joseph Kufsel Joseph Brown Jabez Bowen William Kufsel - now the only survivor. Nicholas Brown Thomas Greene & Welcome Arnold. John Innis Clark Daniel Tillinghast
And he the said Marven being by birth an Englishman, Having serv'd long in the British Navy was very useful in superintending the Rigging and Interior works of the Ship, and also of the Frigate Providence, building here at the same time, under the orders of the above Committee.
He held this office till the third day of April 1777 at which time he was discharged from the service. and being now in very Indigent circumstances and 69 years of age has apply'd to me for this Deposition which I am in truth & Justice bound to give being well acquainted with his former services to his adopted Country when her Navy was only in its Infant state.
Benja Tallman
27 May
Rhode Island District
I certify that on this 27 day of May 1819 personally came before me the above named Benjamin Tallman & made oath to the above certificate by him signed
Benjamin Tallman Commissioner District Court R. I. Dist.

Application of Richard Marven

To the Honorable Secretary at War.
Sir,
In explanation of my being dismissed from the Office I held in the Navy in the Revolutionary War I would beg leave to state - that at the request of the Hon. Mr. Henry Merchant then a member of Congress I presented a complaint to Congress against Commodore Hopkins which was signed by me and other officers of the Warren Frigate, it was grounded on the misconduct of the Commodore - After this complaint was laid before Congress Commodore Hopkins called a Court Martial and got me and all the other officers who had signed the complaint dismissed from the service - And was himself dismissed a few days after - We then brought an action at Law against us for defaming his Character - of this we informed Congress by letter - They appointed a Committee and came to the following resolutions - First - that it was the duty of the subjects of the United States to inform Congress of the misconduct of any superior officer - Secondly - That all the reasonable expenses of the said Lawsuit should be paid by the thirteen united States and Thirdly - resolved to furnish us with copies of several articles of complaint then in their possession against the Commodore from the different Vessels under his command & ordered them to be drawn up and attested to in order to be used in evidence at the impending trial and they were used accordingly, a copy of which case is herewith enclosed, by which it will appear what our complaint was and what the events of the suit. We were acquitted, the Commodore appealed and we were again acquitted and within about a year after I was honorably reinstated in the service and was appointed a second Lieutenant on board the Sloop Argo Capt. Silas Talbot Commander. It will also appear by the enclosed records that Congress paid all the expenses attending the Lawsuit which was instituted against me and others - Thus were we justified in our complaint against the Commodore, and thus the cause of my Discharge was proved to be the performance of my duty to my Country. The documents herewith enclosed will I have no doubt satisfy your Honor that no infelicity was attached to me.
I am Sir with the greatest respect your humble servant Richard Marven
Providence, State of Rhode Island July 3d 1819.
Rhode Island District 5 July 1819
To the Hon. Perry at War.
I am well satisfied with the proof of Mr. Marven's service and poverty. I have known him ever since the revolutionary war. He has been a good citizen. Some estimate of his abilities may be made by the above letter in his own hand writing.
The circumstances of his leaving the public service were not esteemed  esteemed by people in general, at the time discreditable, but highly creditable to him - and, in my opinion, they ought not to be considered now as weakening but as strengthening his claim to the pension asked for.
David Howell District Judge.

Providence July 21st 1820
To the Hon. J. C. Calhoun Esquire
Sir,
I have thought it a duty incumbent on me to give you a short account of the services formerly rendered by Lieutenant Richard Marven to the United States, the Schedule of whose property is now before you. He was bred in the British Navy, & came to this country several years before the Revolution & when the Warren & Providence Frigates were built in this town he was appointed superintendent of them and gave complete satisfaction, for at that time no other person could be found possessed of that kind of knowledge. In those days it was thought impossible to build Dry docks in the United States on account of the small Ebb and Flow of the Tides. This he insisted was an error and wrote a piece proving the contrary to be the truth and that the United States had better situations for dry docks than even England could boast of. After this he described the form and use of such docks not omitting the smallest particular for docking a Man of any size in 24 hours. As these were matters of great public utility I thought it but just in me to mention them and believe me Sir I could give a much longer account of his former usefulness but fear I have already tired you. And he being loaded with age infirmities and poverty hopes for that Association to which he thinks himself entitled by the laws of his adopted Country. You will believe me to be yours in every sentiment of respect
Richard Marven

Capt. n Silas Talbot Present.
Richard Mawbey Navy (R.D) S 35924

Capt. n Silas Talbot Present.
Richard Mawew Navy (U.S.) 835924

Newport 4. th November 1779
Sir
Having had the honour to serve under your command in quality of second Lieutenant during the space of six months and upwards, and during which time I am in justice bound to declare that I have been treated by you with the greatest politeness.
But give me leave Sir to inform you that the circumstances of my family are such that my personal attendance at providence is absolutely necessary for their welfare.
I must therefore beg leave to resign that office which you was so kind as to confer upon me, and for which I beg leave to return you my hearty thanks.
I am Sir your very humble servant To Capt m Silas Talbot Com d of the Sloop Argo Richard Marven

In consequence of the within Request of Lieutenant Richard Marvin I have thought proper to Discharge him from the Argo, with my Cordial thanks for his Many services and in a particular Manner for his Spirit & bravery which he has so often shewn in time of action, and he is hereby discharged given under my hand this 2 th Day of November 1779
Silas Talbot Cap t
Capt m Silas Talbot Present
Richard Marvin Navy (P.9) 835924