Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21970, for Seth Shaw, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
R. S.
Shaw, Seth
S. 21970
CONTENTS

See letter W.P. Agt. Jan 5. 1837
Rhode Island 10034
Seth Shaw
of little compton in the State of Rhode Island who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Simmons of the Regt commanded by Col. Richmond in the Militia time for
1 year 5 1/2 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of R d Island at the rate of 58 Dollars 32. Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of March 1833 and sent to Hon. A. Robbins Newport R.I.
  Arrears to the 14th of March 33  116.  64.    Semimont. allowance ending 4 Sept 33.  29.  16.     145.  80.  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Francis J. Francis Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 o Page 129

Seth Shaw
Admitted
Private 1 year 5 mo 15 days,
$58. 32
per An -
H. A. Robbins

BRIEF in the case of Seth Shaw of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Is. (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 86 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years. Months. Days.     In 1775. " 1. " Private Gen. Capt. Geo. Simmons   " 1776. 1. 4. 15. " Capt. Simmons  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Little Compton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Witnesses and traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Francis J. Francisco Examining Clerk.

Leith Station
29470

Declaration
State of Rhode Island &c.
County of Newport Town of Little Compton Ss
On this eighteenth day of September, A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate of Little Compton in the county and State aforesaid at an adjourned session thereof, Seth Shaw, a resident of said Little Compton, aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th , 1832.
That he was first draughted as a private in a militia company, commanded by Capt. George Simmons, in the town of Little Compton and State of Rhode Island, September 1775 - and was marched to Newport to repel the incursions of Capt. Wallace and others, who were supplying themselves with stock that they plundered from the islands; that declarant served thirty days in the company aforesaid, and was then permitted to return home.
That he enlisted as a private in a company of State troops, commanded by Captain Lawless in the regiment whereof was Colonel, and did duty for a period of eight months when he received his discharge. Does not recollect the precise date of his enlistment; but recollects that he was discharged the March following General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island.
That at the time, the British took possession of Rhode Island, (December 1776) he was draughted and served as a private in Capt. Gideon Simmons company of militia in Little Compton for the purpose of protecting the shores of that town from the incursions of the enemy at Newport. Declarant continued to serve in the capacity of guardsman, every alternate month, for the whole period that the British were in possession of Rhode Island - (say two years and nine months first deducting therefrom the foregoing period of eight months, which he served in the State troops commanded by Capt. Lawless) Declarant did guard duty at various stations in Little Compton from Seconnet Point to Howlands ferry; and did duty at many other times in a military capacity, which his great age does not permit

him to recollect with sufficient accuracy to state under oath. The arrangement of duty in guarding was, that one half of the company should be employed for one month, and the other half, the succeeding month, and so on alternately so long as the necessity of a guard should exist; the whole company in the mean time being liable to duty at a moment's warning. This draught, as declarant believes, was made under an act of the General Assembly of December 1778, draughting all male persons liable by law to bear arms into three divisions, and placing them under the orders of the Governor or commander for the time being, to be mounted as soon as possible to such places as said authorities should point out.
Declarant further states upon oath as aforesaid, that he was born in Little Compton in the then Colony of Rhode Island, November 6 th 1745 (old style); that a certificate of his birth is to be found on the records of said town, a copy of which, properly attested by the present Town clerk William  the hereto annexed; that he was living at the time of his first being draughted in the militia (September 1778) in said town of Little Compton; that he has lived there ever since the Revolutionary war; and that he now lives there; that he has never received any written discharge at the expiration of his service in either of said companies of militia, or from the company of State troops, commanded by Captain William Lawles; that he recollects in addition to the officers before mentioned, David Cooke, who was an ensign in Capt. Geo. Simmons company; that he has no documentary evidence whatever of the services he has sworn to; nor did ever have; it not being customary in the times of the Revolution to give certificates either of enlistment or discharge, as the declarant believes either in the militia, or State troops; that he offers as witnesses of the services before mentioned, so far as their recollection and knowledge will serve Job Briggs, Nathaniel Thompson, John Springer, whose depositions taken and sworn to in open Court, will be hereto annexed; that his memory will not allow him to fix with more precision than

memory will not allow him to fix with more precision
he has herein done the particular day, month and year when he entered the service, or when he left the same; and that he claims to have served in the whole two years, one month and a half — actual duty: that as to the name after being called into service, and the names of the officers under whom he served — they are both succinctly stated in the first part of this Declaration: and that he refers to Samuel Stilland, and Benoni Simmons, as persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, who can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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.
Seth Shaw.
Subscribed and sworn to in open court, the day and year above written.
Attest J. H. BROWNELL Probate Clerk.
We, Samuel Stilland, residing in Little Hampton, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, and Benoni Simmons, residing in the same Little Hampton, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Seth Shaw, who has subscribed, and sworn to the above declaration; and that we believe him to be eighty six years old, and that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. and that we believe him to be a person of veracity.
Samuel Stilland Benoni Simmons
Subscribed and sworn to in open court, the day and year above written.
Attest J. H. BROWNELL Probate Clerk.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after 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 Samuel Hillard, who has signed the foregoing certificate is a resident in the said Town of Little Compton; and that Beman Simmons, who has also signed is a resident in the same town; and that both are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Alexander R. Brownell, Clerk of the Court of Probate of the Town of Little Compton, in the County of Newport, and State of Rhode Island, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Seth Shaw for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this eighteenth day of September A. D. 1832.
A. R. Brownell Probate Clerk.
The testimony of the nearest clergyman, having been requested if one lives in the immediate vicinity of the applicant, the Court think it proper to state, that the Rev. Emerson Paine, having been recently settled in this place, and the only one who could be conveniently called upon, was not sufficiently acquainted with the applicant, to be used as a witness.
A. R. B.

Vernon Church's office Little Hampton October 9 th 1832.
I hereby certify that Seth Shaw the son of Israel Shaw & Abigail his wife, was here, December the 6 th 1745. as of record doth appear.
Wm. H. Williams Vernon Clerk

Job Briggs, of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island upon solemn oath deposes and says, that he was a private in Capt. Geo. Simmons' company of militia, which was marched to Newport to repel the invasions of Captain Wallace, and that he was well ac- quainted with Seth Shaw, a private in said company, and whose declaration has now been read & submitted in open Court. I recollect that said Shaw was also a private in said company, and marched to Newport at the time before mentioned - but how long he served he is unable precisely to recollect. Deponent further states upon oath, that he was also a private in Captain Gideon Simmons' com- pany of militia in Little Compton in December 1818, soon after the British took possession of Rhode Island, and that he knows that the said Seth Shaw was also a private in said company, and did duty as guard in the manner pointed out in his declaration and that according to his best recollection and belief said Shaw con- tinued to do duty as aforesaid nearly the whole time that the British were in possession of Rhode Island - say a period of two years & nine months.
Newport R.I.
State of Rhode Island Job Briggs
Court of Probate, Town of Little Compton September 18 th , 1832.
Then personally appeared in open court, Job Briggs, subscriber to the foregoing deposition, and (having first heard read the declaration of Seth Shaw to this court- made, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress, passed June 7 th . 1832) made solemn oath to the truth of each and every part of the said deposition by him the said Job subscribed. And the Court fur- ther certifies, that the said Job Briggs is a person of good reputa- tion and standing, and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court.
J. B. Brown Probate Clerk.

Nathaniel Tompkins, of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island of lawful age, upon solemn oath deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Seth Shaw, who subscribed and swore to his Declaration in open court on the eighteenth day of September A. D. 1832; in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 — that he knows that said Shaw was a private in Captain George Summers company of militia, September 1775, when said com- pany was ordered to Rhode Island to repel Captain Wallace. This deponent was a private in the same company — He knew said Shaw — but how long he continued in service he is unable to state.
Nathaniel Tompkins
State of Rhode Island
Newport ss.
Count of Probate, Town of Little Compton, September 18 th 1832.
Then personally appeared Nathaniel Tompkins, subscriber to the foregoing dep- osition, in open court, and hearing first heard read the declara- tion of Seth Shaw to this Court made, in order to obtain the bene- fit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832) made solemn oath to the truth of each and every part of said deposition by him, the said Nathaniel subscribed. And the Court further certifies, that the said Nathaniel Tompkins is a person of good reputation and standing, and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal aforesaid Court.
J. H. BROWN Probate Clerk

John Springer of Little Compton, in the State of Rhode Island upon solemn oath deposes and says, that he was a private in Captain George Simmons company of militia, which was marched to New port, September 1775, to repel the invasions of Captain Wallace and others, and was well acquainted with Seth Shaw, an applicant for a pension, and who has this day made & subscribed his Declaration in open Court, and knows that said Shaw was also a private in said company - and marched to Newport in said company therein. That this deponent served a term of six weeks in this town of duty and that he expects and believes, that said Shaw served the same term.
Deponent further states that he was a private in Capt. Gideon Simmons company of militia in Little Compton, at the time the British took possession of Rhode Island, December 1776, and that he knows that said Shaw did guard duty therein in the manner pointed out in his Declaration - and that his belief is that said Shaw served the whole time that the enemy remained in possession of that Island viz two years and nine months with the deductions stated in his Declaration.
John Springer
Witness to signing
Newport R.I.
John E. Robins
State of Rhode Island
Court of Probate, Town of Little
Compton, September 18 th 1832
Then personally appeared in open court, John Springer subscriber to the foregoing deposition, and having first heard read the declaration of Seth Shaw to this Court made in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832) made solemn oath to the truth of each and every part of said deposition by him the said John subscribed. And the Court further certifies that the said John Springer is a person of good reputation and standing and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court.
J. H. BROWN Probate Clerk.

Resolution 21970 INVALID.  am
File No. 21,970
10th March 1870
Act: June 7 th 1870
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Acadia Bank
Providence December 24. 1836
Sir
Application has been made for payment of arrears of Pension due Seth Shaw decd. the Vouchers are herewith transmitted for inspection, & your authority to pay the same is requested. —
I am Very Respectfully your Obedt Servt
for J Waliman Trust H Green Btk
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington