Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14372, for William Ingraham, Rhode Island

SERVICE
R.d.
NUMBER
Ingraham, William N. 14372 Brown Polly (Former widow.)
CONTENTS

1616  Rhode Island Polly Brown, formerly widow of William Ingraham dec d who died in the 1780 of Bristol in the State of R. I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Pierce of the Regt commanded by Colonel Trumbull in the R. I. line for 10 months & 14 days
Inscribed on the Roll of R. I. at the rate of 54 Dollars 88 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of Dec r 1837 and Sept 16 th 1838 B. Cranston Secy of Reps.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $357.72 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 38 - 27.44
$385.16
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book 1 Vol. 2 Page 82

V 2207
Polly Brown
widow of Wm Ingraham
Bristol Co R.I.
M married 1776
deed 1780
Adm e Hom d 14 days
pm. $54.88 per ann.
comg 4 March 1837
R d State Troop.
Col Richm d
Capt Pierce
Vesta Bullock
Hor R d Cranston
R.R.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the 3rd section of the act of 4 th July, 1836, and of the first section of the 3 rd March, 1837.
The State of Rhode Island &c
County of Bristol ss — On this first Monday of June, being the 5 th day of said Month, 1837, personally appeared, before the Court of Probate now in session at Bristol within and for the town of Bristol, in said County: Polly Brown, aged eighty one years, a resident of said Bristol, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed, July 4 th 1836, and the act explanatory of said act, passed March 3 rd 1837; She declares that she was married to William Ingraham of said Bristol, who was a private soldier in the company of Bristol Militia, in the year 1775, then under the command of Captain Jeremiah very soon after under Capt. W. Throop Ingraham but that in the month of October of that year a British squadron anchored in the harbor before the town under Wallace and fired upon the place, that an alarm was immediately given and said company of militia called out as was the militia of the adjoining towns and said Bristol company were kept out in the service of watching the movements of the enemy, guarding the town and ships around the harbor and town for at least a fortnight and until the British squadron dropped down below Prudence Island; That said Ingraham was out as a private soldier in said company all that time stationed a part of the period on Dopesquash Point & a part of it at Bristol Ferry where they began the Breast-works now to be seen there;
That at this time she was intimately acquainted with said Ingraham and was married to him the February following; that in the spring of 1776, Captain Pierce came from East Greenwich with a part of a company of soldiers he was raising for a year's service and opened a Rendezvous for enlistment of men at the House of Joshua Ingraham, now called the Gladding Place, that her said husband, being out of employment as a sailor, enlisted into said company as a private for

one year. One Hammett was Lieutenant of Captain Pines company and she thinks it was raised for Colonel Richmond Regiment. It was expected at the time of her husband's enlistment, that this company would remain stationed at Bristol as it was a very exposed place and had become a place for British depredations, and that it did remain in Bristol through a part of the year, during which time said company were employed every day in throwing up a Breastwork on Warehouse Point where Longwharfe now stands and in building the Fortifications at the Ferry, but in the course of the summer of 1776, said company was marched to Rhode Island and stationed at Newport during which time a draft was made out of the several companies stationed on that Island to raise a force to go to Long Island to take a number of Refugees there and said Ingraham was one of the soldiers drafted for the purpose which was accomplished, and crossed the Sound to Connecticut and thence returned to Newport or some part of Rhode Island where said Ingraham continued in the same service until the English entered Newport or until about that time when said Pines Company were removed and stationed at Bristol Ferry until the expiration of her said husband's term of service expired, having served out his said year; After this and in the summer of 1777, said William Ingraham was marched with a number of the members of Captain Williams Troops company to Howland's Ferry in Tiverton in Spencer's expedition, and was engaged in that service not less than five weeks according to the best of her recollection but whether he was drafted or volunteered in this last service she can not declare; And she further declares that in the following year of 1778, it was the year Bristol was burned, her said husband served in said Troops company from the time of the landing of the enemy on the Neck until after Sullivan's retreat from Rhode Island, that he was in Sullivan's expedition and engaged in a part of the Battle there

and was engaged in this last described service something more than three months; That after the completion of this service her said husband engaged on board the Privateer, General Stark, fitted out at New Bedford for a cruise and was wrecked at Old Town in December 1798, when most of the crew perished with cold among whom was a Brother of her said Husband who froze to death
And the affiant further declares that she was married to the said William Ingraham, on the 25 th day of February, in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy six, by Josiah Finney, Esquire, who has long since deceased, that she has inquired for the record of her marriage among his representatives but is told if he ever kept any of marriages none of his records are to be found; that her said husband sailed out of Bristol in October 1780, on a voyage to the West Indies, officered and manned wholly by inhabitants of this town but that neither vessel, officers or crew have ever been heard of since their sailing; That she was afterwards married to James Brown of Bristol, who also died in August 1804, and that she has ever since remained his widow and was such on the 4 th day of July A.D. 1836, as will more fully appear, by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Attest, Wm. Shrop.
Polly her Brown mother.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written before said Court of Probate, Attest, Wm. Shrop, Prob. Clerk.
I, Wm. Shrop Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Town of Bristol aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Polly Brown, widow, for the Revolutionary services of her former husband, William Ingraham deceased.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, the day and year heretofore written Wm. Shrop Prob. Clerk.

I Joseph Munro of Bristol in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island aged seventy six years and upwards, on solemn oath, depose and say,
That before I was in the service of the Revolution as a soldier I was acquainted with William Ingraham long since deceased. I remember that he enlisted into Capt. Pease's company in Col. Richmond regiment I believe, which in the course of the year 1776 went off to Long Island and brought off a party of refugees. Said Pease's company was partly raised in Bristol. It was raised for one year and stationed a good deal of that time at or near Newport.
After this service he served in Capt. William Mowat's company in Spencer's expedition. I served through this expedition in Capt. Nathan Munro's company of State troops - He was also to my knowledge a member of said Mowat's company and served as such three months from the time that the British landed on Bristol Neck and burnt part of this town in the last of May 1778 until the close of Sullivan's expedition on or about the first of September following. The Bristol Militia which usually served by rotation half at a time while the enemy held Newport, served the three months above named the whole time either in said expedition or in Bristol. He was in Sullivan's expedition in said company. I was also in that expedition in the same regiment; part of the time in the same company and part of the time in another company. Nathan Miller was the Col. of the Bristol County Militia Regiment and commanded one draft in Sullivan's expedition. In the other draft John Cook was the Colonel.
Joseph Munro

Bristol sc. At Bristol this 17 th day of June 1837. Then personally came Joseph Hume within named and signed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition before me. And I certify that said deponent is well known to me and is a man of truth and veracity
Jos. A. Blake Just. Peace

I Thomas H. Coomer of Bristol in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island &c. aged eighty years under solemn oath depose and say
That I remember Wm Ingraham formerly of said Bristol, who married Polly West, during the war of the Revolution — I recollect said Ingraham served in the Militia Company in the fore part of said war, Jeremiah Ingraham was the Capt. of the Company, and it was afterwards commanded by Capt. Wm Shrop. This company was turned out, the first time I recollect, at the time Wallace bombarded the Town in the Month of October 1775, and was kept out, three weeks at least to defend the town I was out and said Ingraham was with me all the time. during this time we with the assistance of other Militia from the neighbouring towns, which had been ordered there, threw up a breast work at Pappasquash, below the town, and got several pieces of cannon there.
Soon after the British came into Newport some regular forces were raised for the defence of this part of the State and said Ingraham, entered into it, I suppose by enlisted, he served a year or more in Capt. Pearce's company, which belonged principally to Greenwich. This company was stationed in the South part of the town a part of the time and a part at the Ferry where they helped build a Fort, and afterwards marched on to Rhode Island.
Thomas H. Coomer
State of Rhode Island &c
Bristol
{S.
— At Bristol in the
County and State aforesaid June 21- 1837-
Personally came the abovenamed Thomas H. Coomer and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition and subscribed the same, before me. — And I further certify that the said Deposition is personally well known to me & sustains a good character for truth and veracity
Wm Shrop Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Ingraham of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island aged seventy years on solemn oath depose and say, that my brother William Ingraham was a private in a company of Militia belonging to the town of Bristol at the beginning of the Revolutionary war and I remember was turned out with their company when the enemy first laid on the Town. I was but a child then but I will remember the occasion. I also remember that in the Spring of the following year, Capt. Pease came from Greenwich to Bristol to enlist or make up a full company of men, and opened a recruiting place at the house of my Uncle Joshua Ingraham, directly opposite my father's house, and that my said brother William enlisted into his company, which was stationed for a number of months in this town. They were employed in building a sort of fort at Warhouse point in said Bristol, and also in building the fortifications at Bristol Ferry, but after a while the company were marched away on to Rhode Island, and stationed near or in Newport. My said brother William went with them. Lieutenant Namett was one of the officers of the company. Benedict Smith was drummer and William Shaw fifer. This service commenced in the Spring of 1776 and in the course of it my said brother went to Long Island after some refugees as I have always understood. On his return he was stationed again in Bristol and served out his whole enlistment of one year. He was married to Polly West a few weeks before his said enlistment. He died in the course of a few years after his marriage and his widow afterwards married James Brown who has been also dead a good many years. And I further testify that my said brother was marched in Capt. Throop's company of Militia in what was called Gen. Spencer's expedition and was absent in it a number of weeks to Howland's ferry

He was also in the service with the same company several months which was turned out after the occupation of Newport by the British and at the time they landed on Bristol Neck and burnt the town. That company was turned out on that occasion and were kept in the service all of them from that time until Sullivan's battle on the Island was over, which was fought about the last of August 1778, and my brother William was in that engagement. After the expiration of this service he went privateering out of New Bedford in the "Gren Hawk" and was wrecked in her in December 1778 from which my brother William escaped but in which my brother Benjamin perished
Daniel Ingraham -
Bristol ss At Bristol this 17 th day of June 1837. Then Daniel Ingraham above named personally came and made oath to the aforewritten deposition by him subscribed before me. And I certify that said deposition is personally known to me and that he is a man of truth and veracity
Jos. N. Blake Just. Peace

I, Wm Throop of Bristol in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island &c. under solemn oath depose and say, That I am Town Clerk of said Bristol, and have been for a number of years last, past. and that as Town Clerk I have often been called upon to search for, the Record of Marriages, which have taken place in this Town, and especially I have been called upon of late for the Record of Marriages which took place during the Revolutionary War, and I testify, that there is no Record of any Marriage performed in Bristol, from October 1775 until May 1779.
And I further testify that by request of Polly Brown who is an applicant for a pension, I have examined an Antient Bible, in her possession in which I find the following family Record,
" William Ingraham, was born September 25 th 1754-
Polly West, was born August 5 th 1755-"
February the 25 th in the year 1776. William Ingraham Joined in Marriage with Polly West.
And I further testify that from the appearance of said family record, it was evidently made many years past, and probably soon after said Marriage.
Wm Throop. S. Clerk-
Bristol s c At Bristol this 14 th day of June AD 1837. at Then personally came William Throop above named and signed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition before me. And I certify that said deponent is personally known to me and is a man of truth and veracity.
And I also certify that I have examined the record in said family bible, that the entry therein is correctly copied in the foregoing deposition and that said entry is evidently an old and genuine one.
Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace.

State of Rhode Island & } Clerk's Office Supreme Judicial Court Bristol County ss. } June 26. A. D. 1837
I Greenwood Reynolds Clerk of said Court for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that William Throop is Clerk of the Court of Probate for Bristol and that the signature of his name at the bottom of the attestation of the declaration of Polly Brown, is his genuine signature
And I further certify that William Throop before whom the deposition of Thomas H. Coomer purports to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol and that the signature of his name at the bottom of the certificate to said deposition is his genuine signature
I further certify that Joseph M. Blake before whom the depositions of Joseph Munro, Daniel Ingraham and William Throop purport to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol, and that the signature of his name at the bottom of the certificate to said depositions is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year above written
Greenwood Reynolds, Clerk

R. d.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14372
Polly Brown
Will
William Ingraham
Rev Ben War
Act: July 4 th
Index:—Vol. A , Page 84
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1775 - 14 d.
1776. 12mo. Cap Penn Co.
1777 1 mo 5 d.
1778 3m.
16. 14
The original family record was submitted in the family Bible, shows that the marriage took place Feb 25 1776
A. H. S.

William Ingraham was born Sep 28: 1754 Polly West was born August 25 1755. was married Feb 5 1776.
This is all of record found in the Brown Ingraham Family Bible.
Evans
clk

N.O.W. & B.L. Div Evans
Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Aug 25- 1877.
Dear Sir
I herewith transmit to your address the Old Family Bible which was sent to this Office in 1837. by Mrs. Polly Brown when she made application for a pension.
You will please acknowledge the receipt of the Bible on the back of this letter and return it to this Office in the enclosed envelope.
Very respectfully
Mr Sam l . Ingraham Bristol P.O. " Geo. R. D.
A. P. Clarke Acting Commissioner J. M. [unintelligible]

Bristol R I August 29 th 1877 Received of the Pension Office at Washington D. C. one Family Bible sent to the Pension Office in the year 1837 by Polly Brown of Bristol R I
Samuel Ingraham

Post Office Bristol P.O. R.I. August 22 1877
P. P. G. Clarke Esq.
Dear Sir
Yours of the 16 th inst is duly received and contents noted I find the nearest relations of the late Polly Barron are Samuel Ingraham whose age is about 85 and Hannah L. Doty age about 80 both live in Bristol R.I. and their Post Office address is Bristol R.I.
Yours Respectfully
John B. Eames
Postmaster

File No. 14372
Polly Brown
Widow of
W m Ingraham
Receipt for Bible &c enclosed & to be filed in Jacket of above No. Sep 1. 1877.
Emms

A. W. and B. L. D. E
Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Aug. 16 1877.
Dear Sir
Please furnish this Office with the names and present Post-Office address of some of the descendants of Polly Brown - Widow of William Ingraham late a Private in the Rev. War.
The Widow - Mrs. Brown - made application for pension in 1837. and sent to this office - through her apt. N. Bullock Esq of Gam-Town - a family Bible to be filed in Evidence. It is now desired to return this Bible to the family who resided in Gam Town at the time above specified.
Please return this letter with your reply to this Office in the enclosed Envelope.
Very respectfully
J. P. Glavins
acting Commissioner
Post Master Bristol Bristol Co R.I.

Bristol, Nov 30 th 1837
Sir, I avail myself of an opportunity, by Hon R. B. Cranston of the House of Representatives, to forward the Bible, containing the record of the marriage of Polly Brown and William Ingraham, and tho' the year, it took place, is interlined between the 5 th and 6 th lines of the record, it has every appearance of an ancient and genuine record, and establishes the fact that the marriage was celebrated on February 25 th 1776. as declared by Mrs Brown.
I also forward such evidence, as was required, from the Archives of our State shewing such a company was raised, by order of the Legislature, as we state Ingraham enlisted in, that the company was raised, at the time, and was stationed, as expected and proved by our witness. I also forward an additional deposition to establish the fact of W. Ingraham's services as a member of the militia of Bristol, in standing guard on our shores.
On reference to the Secretary's certificate, it will be seen that in March, 1776, Captain Job Pease's company was ordered to be stationed, at Bristol . I would also remark that tho', the act for raising the new Regiment required that the Captain should raise 20 men, and the other commissioned officers, 15 men each, in 20 days from the rising of the Assembly, on forfeiture of their Commissions, yet the Assembly did not rise till the 10 th November, and that Captain Pease did serve, will be evident, from the amount of his muster roll, in

in May, 1776, and the pay voted, in September of the same year, to Doctor Turner, for medical aid to a sick soldier of the company.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedt. servt.
N. Bullock
J. L. Edwards, Ensign, Comm of Preservants
Report to Hon. R. B. Cranston H. R.

I Jonathan Fales of Bristol in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island &c Aged Eighty six years, on  recedly solemn oath depose and say,
That I recollect one Capt. Pearce, I do not recollect his Christian name, came to Bristol early in the year 1776. I think as early as Janu- ary in that year, to enlist a company of men, which had been lately ordered by the General Assembly, he came from East-Greenwich, or elsewhere from the West side of the Bay, where he had begun to raise his company, he came to Bristol to fill it up. he opened his enlistment at Joshua Ingraham's, Lieut. Hammett was second Officer of the Company a Young man by the name of Smith was drummer.
I remember very well, he and the fife, in the Company, looked so much alike, that they were often taken for twin Brothers, this circumstance was often remarked at the time by many people.
William Ingraham, enlisted, into this company while it was stationed at his Uncle Joshua's house I cannot tell, at what particular time, but it was before the company removed to the ferry, where they went early in the spring of 1776. and there commenced throwing up breast-works, afterwards the company was removed to Rhode Island,
Said Company was raised for Col. Richmond's Regiment, and I have no doubt but that said William served out his enlistment in said Company
I recollect while said Company was stationed at In- graham's house, they assisted our Militia in throw- up a Fortification at War-house point
I further testify that said Ingraham was a mem- ber of the Militia Company of this Town at the be- ginning of the Revolution, and after his enlistment into Regt Richmond's regiment of State troops had expired, he took his turn in the Militia and served by rotation, until he went out in the

Privateer General Stokes late in the year 1778. the privateer was lost, or cast away at Martha's Vineyard, as she was bound to sea on her cruise. Every able bodied private of our Company of Militia that remained in town was turned out for half the time to guard the place and the adjacent shores, unless he was in there- gular service by draft or otherwise, while the en- emy were in Newport. Jonathan Fales
State of Rhode Island &c. Bristol ss. At Bristol in the County of Bristol and State as aforesaid, October 6th A. D. 1837.
Personally came Jonathan Fales and made solemn oath to the truth of his foregoing deposition, and subscribed the same before me.
And I further certify that the said depo- nant is personally well known to me and sus- tains a good character for truth and una- city.
Wm. Throop Justice of the Peace.
State of Rhode Island ss } Clerk's Office Supreme Judicial Court. Bristol County ss. } October 6th A. D. 1837
I Greenwood Reynolds Clerk of said Court for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that William Throop before whom the deposition of Jonathan Fales purports to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol, and that the signature of his name at the bottom of the certificate to said deposition is his genuine signature.
For testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year above written.
Greenwood Reynolds Clerk

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretary's Office Sept 8. 1837.
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State (then colony) in October seventeen hundred seventy five, an act was passed entitled "An act for embodying, supplying and paying a Regiment consisting of Five hundred Men, for the defence of the United Colonies in general and of this colony in particular." Said Regiment to be embodied for twelve months from the rising of the General Assembly, unless sooner disbanded.
That at said session William Richmond was appointed Colonel of said Regiment and Job Pearce, Captain. Malachi Hammett Lieutenant, and Benjamin Burlingham Ensign of the third Company.
That by a resolution at said session it was provided, that each Captain in said Regiment should enlist twenty men, and each Lieutenant and Ensign fifteen men, within twenty days after the rising of the assembly, and forfeiture of his commission: and that each officer so soon as he had enlisted his number, should proceed with them to Head Quarters on Rhode Island.
That in March 1776, upon the report of a Committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the colony, and the measures necessary for the defence thereof, and to consider at what places it would be best to station the troops now in the service of the colony, it was ordered "that Capt Job Pierce's Company's station be in Bristol."
That at some session 1776, Jacob Greene one of the Committee of Safety was credited in his account with the colony, as follows
1776 "By the Amount of the Muster Roll of May 25. Capt. Job Pierce's Company £ 661. 13. 0 "

That at September session 1776, Peter Turner was allowed three pounds four shillings and ten pence lawful money. "for medicines by him provided for and his attendance on a sick soldier belonging to Capt Job Pierce's Company."
Witness - Henry Bowen Secy.
I further certify that the General Assembly in October 1775 commenced its session on the thirty first day of said month and rose on Friday the tenth day of November following.
Witness
Henry Bowen Secy.