Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 20176, for Nicholas Jencks, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.I.
Jencks, Nicholas Jenks Betsey
W 20176
CONTENTS

10894
A
New York.
Republ.
Betsey Jenks dec d .
Widow of Nicholas Jenks who was a Pensioner under the Act of and who died on the July 1817 of Worming in the State of N.Y. who was a Sgt Major in the Company commanded by Captain Whipple of the Regt commanded by Col. Tatham in the line for
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 111 Dollars 66. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of April 1835 and sent to Hon R. L. Rose. H. R.
Total amount, $
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by Book
Vol. 1
Chase Clerk Page 163
Payable to her only surviving children, to wit, Wright Jenks Joseph Jenks, Olney Jenks Betsey Bonny.

Betsy Jenkins to A. Nicholas Jenkins No 14102 N.Y. Wyoming Co
on roll Cal Whipple Cal Tiphon as Supt for 16 March 1778 to 16 Oct 1778 and from roll from Nov 1778 in the records
1 yr 7 m Supt $95. 5 m P 16.66 $111.66
On 4 March 1836 to 4 March 1841
L. d. July 1819 W. d. 15 Jan 1842
Children Knight Jenkins Joseph Jenkins, Olney Jenkins & Betsy Boring
Ad 7 July 1838
M. R. S. Rose N.R.

State of Rhode Island County of Providence I, Henry Brown, Esquire, of the City & County of Providence do hereby certify that I have in my possession an original Bill of enlistment of Rhode Island Troops, commanded by Col. Christopher Lippitt, which was raised by said State to serve one year from the 28 th of January A.D. 1776, for seven hundred & twenty six men & further certify that on a Pay Abstract of Capt David Dyer's Company in said Regiment is borne the name of "Nicholas Jencks" as "Sergeant" in Abstract for the Month of September A.D. 1776. And I further certify that I have in my possession a List of all those officers & soldiers in a Rhode Island Brigade of State Troops, the regiments of which were commanded by Colonels Robert Elliott, John Topham & Archibald Crary, together with the balances of disbursements of their pay as found due by a Committee of the Legislature & reported in October A.D. 1785, which Brigade was first raised for fifteen months ending March 16 1778, then again raised for twelve months ending March 16 1779

to then a third time for twelve months ending March 10 1780 as will appear by the several acts of the Legislature which I have examined and I further certify that on the list of those allowed a portion of pay in Col John Dophams regiment is borne the name of Nicholas French as a private & the sum of $16, 8-3/4 found due him but for which enlistment does not appear but from the amount due & the scale of disbursement my impression it was for services since the second enlistment in 1778.
Providence August 13 1849 Benjamin Cowell
Providence, R.I. In Providence August 13 1849
Personally appeared Benjamin Cowell and was with the facts of the above statement by him subscribed before me & I further certify that the said Benjamin Cowell is a credible witness Franklin Green Not. Public
8511 of 30.000

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence, ss.
I Albert Greene Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Providence in said State, do hereby certify, that Franklin Greene, who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said City of Providence, duly elected.
In attestation whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and have affixed the seal of said Court, this thirteenth day of August, A.D. one thousand, eight hundred and forty nine.
Albert Greene Clerk.

I George Smith of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island in my seventy fifth year of my age on oath do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Nicholas Jencks formerly of this Town he was the son of Joseph Jencks. Nicholas Jencks and my self were born and brought up near neighbors Nicholas Jencks Married Betsey Bryant - after they were Married they lived a while to his Father's House they had one child while they lived to his Father's then his Father built a House for his son Nicholas about one and a half miles from his own and Nicholas Jencks moved into it. he lived there about ten years and after his Father died he moved to the State of New York he was a likely and respectable Man when he lived here. I was not a soldier in the Revolutionary war my self but I have allways understood that Nicholas Jencks and his two Brothers were soldiers in said war.
George Smith
Providence ss. in Smithfield this thirteenth day of December A D 1849 Then personally appeared before me George Smith Subscribed to the above deposition and after being sworn gave the same which was by me written and read to him in his presence and by him subscribed in my presence. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said George Smith and that he is a credible witness in the premises.
Spencer Mowry Justice of the Peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Providence County, sc.
Town Clerks Office, Smithfield November Twenty Sixth A.D. One thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Nine.
I Stafford Mann Town Clerk of the Town of Smithfield, in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island do certify and say that by virtue of my said Office I have the custody of the records of the births and marriages which have taken place in said Town; And I further certify that I have examined all said records from the year Seventeen Hundred and eighty to the year Eighteen Hundred and I cannot find the marriage of Nicholas Jenckes to Betsey Bryant. And I further certify that I have reason to believe that many marriages have taken place in said Town since the War of the Revolution which have never been brought to be recorded.
Witness
Stafford Mann
Town Clerk.
Providence sc. in Smithfield this twenty sixth day of November AD 1849 Then Personally appeared Stafford Mann Town Clerk for the Town of Smithfield and made the oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him written & subscribed in my presence I further certify that the said Stafford Mann is well known to me and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit Spencer Mowry Justice of the Peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Providence County sc.
Clerk's Office, Court of Probate,
Smithfield December Fifth
A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Nine
I Stafford Mann, Clerk of the Court of Probate in the Town of Smithfield in the County of Providence aforesaid do certify that it appears from the Inventory of the personal estate of Joseph Jenckes (father of Nicholas Jenckes) late of said Smithfield deceased, on record in this office, that the said Joseph Jenckes departed this life on the fourteenth day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Three.
Witness
Stafford Mann
Probate Clerk
Providence sc In Smithfield this fifth Day of December A.D. 1849 Then personally appeared Stafford Mann Probate Clerk for the Town of Smithfield and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him written and subscribed in my presence. I further certify that the said Stafford Mann is well known to me and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit.
Spencer"> Spencer Mowry Justice of the Peace

I Hannah Gully of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island now Eighty three years of age on oath do testify and say, that I was formally well acquainted with Nicholas Jenckes and his wife Betsey Jenckes I distinctly recollect about the time they were Married they were Married at the House of Stephen Arnold a Justice of the Peace in said Smithfield according to the best of my recollection they were Married in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty two the reason I recollect this more particular is the birth of their eldest Child which took place about one year after their marriage I distinctly recollect when their eldest Child was about two or three months old they brought it to William Aldrich where I was at learning my trade as a taylors, to be taken care of while they went a visiting. I lived a near neighbour to Nicholas Jenckes and his wife while they lived in this town and used to do their Sewing. Hannah Gully
Providence ss In Smithfield this fifth day of December A.D. 1849 Then personally appeared before me Hannah Gully Subscribed to the above deposition and after being sworn gave the same which was by me written and read to her in her presence and by her subscribed in my presence. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Hannah Gully and that she is a credible witness in the premises. Spencer Mowry Justice of the Peace

5 State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence Ye.
I, John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within & for the County of Providence, in the State aforesaid, being a Court of Record, Do hereby certify that Spencer Mearny Egan is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Smithfield in said County, duly authorized to act in his said capacity; that he is by law empowered to administer oaths and take depositions; and that the aforesaid four signatures to the aforesaid certificates, purporting to be the signatures of said Mearny are genuine.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at the City of Providence, this thirteenth day of December A D 1849.
John W. Smith Clerk

I Reuben Place of Gloucester in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island in my Eighty ninth year of my age on oath do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Nicholas Jencks formerly of Smithfield he was the son of Joseph Jencks Nicholas Jencks married Betsey Bryant for his wife I well remember when they were married I was about twentyone years old when they were married after they were married they lived in the house with his Father they lived there until they had one Child then his Father built a house about two miles from where he lived and Nicholas Jencks and his wife moved into it they lived there about eight or ten years and had several Children - then his Father died and soon after Nicholas Jencks and his family moved to the State of New York. Nicholas Jencks was a soldier in the Revolutionary war he was stationed on Rhode Island in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six or seven he served as sergeant at that time according to the best of my recollections. I was there my self a soldier at that time I served at that time in Col. Chad Browns Regiment and in Capt. Daniel Morony's Company Nicholas Jencks served at that time in Col. Tophams Regiment and in Capt. David Dexters Company I had a Brother Joseph Place that served at that time in the same Regiment with Nicholas Jencks. Nicholas Jencks served again as private in seventeen hundred and seventy eight or nine in Col. Lippits or Tophams Regiment and I was in Col. Weatherheads Regiment at that time.
Reuben Place

Providence ss in Smithfield this twenty eighth day of January A.D. 1850 Then personally appeared before me Reuben Place Subscribed to the above deposition and after being sworn gave the same which was by me written and read to him in his presence and by him subscribed in my presence. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Reuben Place and that he is a credible witness in the premises. Spencer Mowry Justice of the Peace
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence ss, I, John W. Smith, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County of Providence and State aforesaid Do hereby certify, that Spencer Mowry Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Smithfield in said County of Providence, duly qualified to act in his said capacity, and is by law authorized to administer oaths and take depositions, and that the signature above written is the genuine signature of said Mowry.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of our said Court at the City of Providence, this twenty ninth day of January A.D. 1850.
John W. Smith, clerk

State of New York County of Wyoming
On this 25 th day of February 1850 personally appeared in open court Hannah Brooks, resident in the Town of Prine, in said County, aged forty nine years on the 25 th February 1850 who, being first duly sworn, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the amount due to the heirs of Betsey Drake deceased under the act of the 7 th July 1838
This declarant states that she was well acquainted with Betsey Drake who was the widow of Nicholas Drake late of the Town of Conesville in said County, that she knew very well when said Betsey & apostolized in making her grave clothes at the time of her death. That the said Betsey Drake died in the said Town of Conesville on the 15 th day of January in the year eighteen hundred & forty two (1842). That after the death of her said Husband Nicholas Drake she did not again intermarry.
Hannah Brooks
Sworn & subscribed to this 25 th day of February 1850 in open court Abrams Dutt, Dept. Clerk of Wyoming County

State of New York County of Wyoming ss.
On this 25 th day of February 1850 personally appeared in open court Knight Jencks resident of the town of Conesville in said County aged sixty six years in January 1849 who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the for amount due to the heirs of Betsey Jencks demand under the act of 7 th July 1838.
This declarant states that he is a son of Nicholas & Betsey Jencks deceased - that his parents were natives of the town of Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island and resided in that place during the revolutionary war & for many years subsequent thereto - that the said Nicholas Jencks was a soldier in the war of the revolution that and served (as this declarant has heard his said father say) in the troops of the state of Rhode Island under a Colonel by the name of Topham - that the said Nicholas Jencks served (as this declarant believes) one year as a Sergeant in a company commanded by Capt. David Dexter in a regiment commanded by Col. Christopher Lippitt in the year 1776 - that he enlisted again as this declarant believes, for one year & served in a regiment commanded by Col. Topham - in the year 1779. or 1780. in the troops of the State of Rhode Island.
This declarant further states that his said father Nicholas Jencks died without drawing a pension -
This declarant further states that his said father & mother whose maiden name was Betsey Bryant, were married in the year 1781 - or 1782 - in the said town of Smithfield - by a Justice of the Peace of that place - that the said Nicholas &

Betsy Jencks resided in the said town of Smithfield about fifteen years after their marriage & then removed to the state of New York - that this declarant was born in the said town of Smithfield on (as he believes) the 28 th day of January 1783 -
This declarant further states that his said father died late in the year 1819 that his said mother died on the 15 th day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty two (1842) - that after the death of her said husband she did not again intermarry
This declarant further states that his said father & mother left four children now living whose names are Knight Drake, Olney Drake, Joseph Drake, & Betsy Bonney
Sworn & subscribed to the day & year first above written
Knight Jencks
in Open Court Abram Smith, Dept Clerk of Wyoming County
State of New York
County of Wyoming ss. I Ransom Bleecker Clerk of said County do hereby certify that at a Circuit Court held in & for said County on the 25 th day of February 1850 it was due proof by the exhibition of testimony satisfactory to said Court that Nicholas Jencks died in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen that his widow Betsy Jencks died on the 15 th day of January eighteen hundred & forty two (1842) & that the said Nicholas & Betsy Jencks left four children now living whose names are Knight Drake, Joseph Drake, Olney Drake and
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 25 th day of February 1850.
Ransom Bleecker Clerk

Betsy Bonney

October 5, 1933 am
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Adam Jenks, S. 2291
Nicholas Jencks, W. 20176
BA-J/MOS
Beatrice Jenks Perkins 2354 E. 70th Street Chicago Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information in regard to the pension claims of Adam and Nicholas Jenks, soldiers of the Revolution.
In the papers of pension claim, Adam Jenks, S. 2291, one Olney Jenks of Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York, stated that he had always been informed that his father (name not given) and Adam Jenks served in the same company during the Revolution. Olney Jenks did not state his relation to Adam Jenks. The name, Oliver Jenks, does not appear in the papers of pension claim, Adam Jenks, S. 2291.
In the papers of pension claim, Nicholas Jencks, W. 20176, the name, Oliver Jenks, does not appear. The papers of this pension claim show that Nicholas Jencks was the son of Joseph and that Knight, Olney and Joseph Jencks and Betsy Bonney were children of Nicholas Jencks.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
July 23, 1926
Archibald A. Forshee 23 Allston St Dorchester, Mass
Sir:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 20176, it appears that Nicholas Jenoks or Jenks (son of Joseph Jenoks, who died November 14, 1793 at Smithfield, Rhode Island) was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, date not stated.
While residing at said Smithfield, he enlisted in 1776 and served one year as a Sergeant in Captain David Dexter's Company, Colonel Christopher Lippitt's Rhode Island Regiment; and from 1779 or 1780, he served one year in Colonel Topham's Rhode Island Regiment.
He died in July 1819, in New York state.
Soldier married in 1781 or 1782 at Smithfield,

Rhode Island, Betsey Bryant. She
She died January 15, 1842 in Covington, Wyoming County, New York.
Pension was allowed the following children— Knight Jencks, born January 28, 1783; Olney Jencks; Joseph Jencks; and Betsey Bonney.
Respectfully
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Washington March 4, 1850.
Sir:
Herewith is presented the claim of Betsey Jencks widow of Nicholas Jencks under act of 7 th July 1838.
The proof is conclusive of Jencks service for one year as Sergeant in 1776. and one year as a Private in 1778-9.
The identity as Mrs Jencks husband is established beyond a question by the testimony Reuben Place himself a soldier at the same time.
The proof of marriage is the best attainable. All the witnesses testify to the fact of Jencks marriage - his residence with his father, of his father erecting a house for him & Jencks & wife occupying it about 10 years - and the transcript from the Office of the Court of Probate shows that the father Joseph Jencks died in 1793 - and of course the marriage, the erection of the house & the occupancy for 10 years were all prior to the time of the father's death - No record of any description of the marriage or birth of Children can be found - and in the

absence of it. It is submitted that the proof presented, showing clearly the marriage se- -paration prior to 1794. Should be taken as sufficient to establish that fact.
Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt.
J. M. Drury.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Court of Pensions Washington D.C.

Ray
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20176
Betsey Jenks Widow of Nicholas Jenks Sergt. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. 64 Page 37
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1976 July 23-Hist to Archibald C. Forshall Esq. 1933 Oct. 5 Beatrice Jenks Perkins inf. mrs. Oliver Jenks does not appear in 1840 pen. sum. See letter in Adam Jenks. S. 2291 Ms. A. 9. 2

PARKE H. CUSTIS, PRESIDENT 77 FRANKLIN STREET ARTHUR E. GATES, VICE-PRESIDENT 141 MILK STREET WILLIAM E. MACURDA, VICE-PRESIDENT WATERTOWN ALTON L. MILLER, TREASURER 525 TREMONT TEMPLE WILLIAM W. RUGG, CLERK WATERTOWN ARTHUR E. WATKINS, FINANCIAL SECRETARY 2 PARK STREET
BOSTON BAPTIST BETHEL CITY MISSION SOCIETY
ROOM 525 TELEPHONES MAIN 1221 AND MAIN 6999 TREMONT TEMPLE, BOSTON, MASS.
ARCHIBALD A. FORSHEE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY REV. CHARLES L. PAGE ASSOCIATE SECRETARY
Interior Department, Pension Bureau, Washington, D. P.
June 1, 1926.
Dear Sirs: - I have a statement from the Secretary of State of Rhode Island concerning the military record of Nicholas Jencks, North Providence, R. I. as follows:-
Sergeant, Capt. David Dexter Co., Col. Christopher Dippitts' Regiment in 1776 and 1777.
Sergeant, Capt. William Phillips Co., Col. John Topham's Regiment in 1778.
He further states that according to a statement on file in the Pension Office, Washington, D. P., this Nicholas Jencks died July 1819.
I would greatly be obliged to you if I might have a copy of the statement above referred to.
Appreciating any information which you may be able to give me. - am,
Very respectfully yours,
Archibald A. Forshee, 23 Allston St., Norchester, Mass.