Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22371, for Jonathan Taylor, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. S.
Taylor, Jonathan Martha
W 22371
CONTENTS

2
V 6586
Three Islands
Martha Taylor widow of Jonathan Taylor, no.
R.S.
who was pensioned under the Act of
and who died on the 21 st March 1836 of the in the State of N. South who was at the in the State of commanded by Captain of the commanded by in the in the State of line for the
Inscribed on the Roll of Three Islands at the rate of 30 Dollars & 62 1/2 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the day of March 1836 to the  the  the the  the  the
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $151.00 Semi-annual allowance ending
$151.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by the Clerk, Book: the Vol. the Page 26

Martha Taylor

Deacon Clerk's Office Little Compton August 17 th 1846.
I certify that Jonathan son of William Taylor and Deborah his wife, and Martha Daughter of William Briggs and Deborah his wife, was this day joined together in Holy Matrimony by me Jonathan Ellis Clerk.
Little Compton June 8 th A. D. 1735."
June the eighth seventeen hundred and eighty three. I certify that the above is a true copy of the record in fair legible letters and figures excepting the words June the Eighth Seventeen hundred and eighty three
Jonathan Ellis Town Clerk.
State of Rhode Island } County of Newport S. }
County of Newport S. }
I Alexander H. Brownell above named, depose & say, that I hold the Office of Town Clerk of the town of Little Compton in the County & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said office with the exception above named, as certified by me.
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Martha Taylor, and that she is the identical person of said Jonathan Taylor.
Jonathan Ellis Town Clerk.
Sworn before me
State of Rhode Island } County of Newport S. }
County of Newport S. }
I Alexander H. Brownell Clerk of the Court of Probate of Little Compton in the R. County of Newport being a Court of record do hereby certify that Thomas Palmer is a justice of the Peace in the town of Little Compton in the County aforesaid was appointed by the General Assembly and commissioned according to said hearing date June 29 th 1846. And is fully authorized to act in his capacity And that his foregoing signature by him made is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Little Compton on this seventeenth Day of August in the year of our Lord 1846. Eighteen hundred forty.
Jonathan Ellis Town Clerk.

V 4292.
Martha Taylor widow of Jonathan.
R. S.
act 7. July 38
m 83. d'09
admd 9 mo pri 30 H
no deduction
Benjamin Providence
R 9
due prop etc.
Director
R. I.

State of Rhode Island County of Newport ss.
On this twentieth day of September A.D. 1838 personally appeared before the Court of Probate, of Little Compton in the County of Newport, a Court of record, Martha Taylor, a resident of sd. Little Compton in sd. County, of Newport, aged seventy Eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 th . 1838, Entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
That she is the widow of Jonathan Taylor late of sd. Little Compton dec d and late a Revolutionary Soldier. Belonging to the South Company of Militia in 1 st town. At the breaking out of the War in 1775. the British had armed vessels in Narragansett Bay, under the command of the notorious Capt. Waller - at that time the inhabitants on the shores of the bay were continually assailed by this force and the Militia were frequently called out to repel them. My sd. husband was on Rhode Island for a considerable time in the year 1776 before the Enemy came and took the Island. After they came in Dec. 1776. the Militia company to which he belonged were in service, and he was in actual service, on the west shore of sd. town from Dec. 1776 to April 1777. four months. In April 1777 the company were divided into two parts - and each part performed duty for one half of the time, by month by turns of duty, on the shores of the town - each man had to stand guard, every alternate month for himself, or hire a substitute - and this arrangement continued until the Enemy left Rhode Island in Nov r 1779. My husband the said Jonathan at that time lived with his father, the late deacon Wm. Taylor whose house was a guard post, near the west shore, at the place called Taylors Cove - during the time aforesaid, my said husband, performed his own share of duty - and sometimes stood as a substitute for others (As I have heard him declare) but their names, I now cannot state - He was on Rhode Island in Full

-ivons Expedition in August 1778 for one month - and after the Enemy evacuated the Island - he was drafted and went on to Rhode Island - But how many times I am unable to say - I was at that time well acquainted with my s t husband and knew about his being a soldier on the shores and on Rhode Island - we were both born and always lived in this town - and knew to each other before our marriage - his duty on the shore guard, was performed, at the guard posts at Seekonk Point, at Gayfor Lane, at the Richmond House and the Red-house - in s t town, under, some of the officers of his s t com- pany - it belonged to Col. Cooks Regiment of Militia - My said husband left no documents, or papers in relation to their services - But that he performed his full share of militia duty in that time of trial I solemnly swear - According to my best recollection and belief - I declare that my said husband served not less than the following times during s t War - at the times therein mentioned in the grade of a private soldier, namely - from Dec. 1775 to Dec 1776. three months - from Dec 1776 to Dec 1777. eight months from Dec. 1777 to Dec 1778 six months - from Dec. 1778 to November 1779 five months - in the 1780 one month and in the year 1781 one month -
I further declare that I was married to the said Jonathan Gayfor on the eighth day of June seventeen hundred and Eighty three (1783) That my husband the said Jonathan Gayfor died on the 20 th day of March A.D. 1809. That I was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and Ninety four: viz. at the above stated time -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & S Year of our written before & in Court Martha Taylor
And the said Court hereby certify that the above named Martha Gayfor is by them known to be the widow of Jonathan Gayfor dec d for whose services she claims a pension - That she is a credible person, and that they believe the statements by her herein made are true.

I Alexander P. Brownell Clerk of said Court, hereby certify, that the foregoing are the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Martha Taylor for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the 20 th day of September A.D. 1838 & And of American Independence the Sixty second third
A. P. Brownell Clerk of Probate.

Town Clerk's Office, Little Compton June 19 th A. 1839.
"I certify that Jonathan son of William Saylor and Deborah his wife, and Martha Daughter of William Briggs and Abigail his wife, was this day joined in matrimony — by me — Jonathan Ellis. Clerk."
Little Compton June ye 8 th A. 1783."
June the eighth Seventeen hundred and Eighty three. —
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record in fair legible letters and figures — excepting the words, "June the Eighth Seventeen hundred and Eighty three."
A. H. V. M. L. B. Town Clerk.
State of Rhode Island County of Newport ss.
I Alexander H. Brownell above named, depose & say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the Town of Little Compton in the County & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of my office, with the exception above named, as testified by me. — I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Martha Saylor, and that she is the widowed widow of the Jonathan Saylor. —
A. H. V. M. L. B. Town Clerk.
Sworn before me
P. H. Little Justice of the Peace
State of Rhode Island County of Newport ss.
I Alexander H. Brownell Clerk of the Court of Probate of Little Compton in the County of Newport, being a Court of record, do hereby certify that Philip H. Little is a Justice of the Peace, in the Town of Little Compton in the County aforesaid — was appointed by the General Assembly and commissioned according to Law — bearing date May 7 th 1838. — And is fully authorized to act in his said capacity — And that his foregoing signature by him made is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Little Compton on this 22 nd day of June, in the year of our Lord 1839. Eighteen hundred thirty nine.
A. H. V. M. L. B. Clerk.

I Gideon Church of Little Compton in the County of New- port, State of Rhode Island, a Revolutionary soldier, of lawful age - being duly sworn, solemnly declare - That I was always acquainted with with the late Jonathan Taylor of this town, whose Widow Martha Taylor also of this town is an Applicant for a pension, for the services of Jonathan Revolutionary services - We always belonged to the same militia Company - to wit, the South Company of Militia of the town of Little Compton - And in time of the Revolutionary War, performed much of our public service together - The said Jonathan during all of the Revolution lived with his father, in this town. The late deacon William Taylor, whose house was made a guard post at what is called 'Taylor's Cove'. - From Dec. 1776 to Nov. 1779. While on the shore duty the said Jonathan and myself belonged to the same class of our company on duty at a time - and most of said time we belonged to the same class. We were for a long time detailed to bring our provisions & rations from Wickford's ferry to the guard post at Taylor's Cove - - I have been with him much on the shore, in the shore guard during all of the time the Enemy occupied Rhode Island - - I have been with Jonathan at the Richmond House and at Taylor's Cove, in Little Compton for as many at least as four - ten months actual service - at Taylor's Cove, Benjamin Lord was capt. of the guard for most of the time - Capt. Simmons and Col. Tink- -erd commanded the guard at the Richmond House - our company - were divided from the Spring of 1777 into two classes and served for one month at a time, every other month - so every man had to be in service one half of the time - I further state that the utmost vigilance was used by the authority to bring in every man able to bear arms to stand in the public service - and no man liable to bear arms, could escape his share of duty unless he furnished a Substitute -
Gideon Church
State of Rhode Island &c. } County of Newport. } ss.
Clerk's Office of the Court of Probate of Little Compton in said County, of Newport. Sept 20 th 1838.
Personally appeared the above named Gideon Church known to be a credible witness who subscribed and was duly sworn to the truth of the above deposition in Court -
J. R. [unintelligible] Clerk of Probate.

I Francis Miller of Little Compton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, a revolutionary soldier of lawful age, being sworn according to Law, on my oath declare - That I was acquainted from my boyhood with the late Jonathan Taylor of this town - his widow Martha Taylor is an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress for her husband's revolutionary services -
The said Jonathan and myself belonged to the same militia company, before, after, and during the revolutionary war - namely - the 1st or Lower Company in this town - and during said war, under the command of Capt. E. Simmons, Coe, and others - Upon the arrival of the British on Rhode Island our whole Company was called into the service, and stationed at posts on the shore to guard against them, and to prevent their landing on our side of the river or east passage of the bay - we continued in service about four months, when about the month of April 1777, our said Company was divided into two companies - and after that, we served each alternate month, for one month at a time, until the Enemy left Rhode Island - In the winter from Dec. 1776 to Apr. 1777 I stood at Seaskonnet point, and the said Jonathan stood at the guard post next at the north, at Taylor's lane, at the same time - our duty was such on the shore, that we frequently saw others on duty, who were not stationed at the same place. I was stationed at the guard post, during the time the Enemy was on Rhode Island, more than at any other place - yet I have stood at several other places during that time - I have been with said Jonathan in the summer of 1777 at Taylor's lane for I believe as many as two months - and I have seen him in the service many times in the years 1778 and 1779 on the shore of this town in the guard service - from my knowledge of said Jonathan, and of his services at that time, I have no doubt whatever but that he performed his full share of duty -
State of Rhode Island &c } County of Newport - }
Clerk's Office of the Court of Probate of Little Compton in said County of Newport. Sept 20th 1838
Personally appeared the above named Francis Miller known to this Court to be a credible witness who subscribed and was duly sworn to the truth of the foregoing deposition in Court -
J. R. BRITTALL Clerk of Probate

4292
Let. to J. C. Cope Aug 6 June 39
" same Aug 24 39
" Hon. R. B. Cranston Jan. 1
17. 1840.
to A. R. Brownell Dec. 20. 1841.
Hon. R. B. Cranston Mar. 6. 41-
" R. Powell March 4. 1842
Oct 7. July 38.

I John Springer of Little Compton County of Newport and State of Rhode Island on oath do testi- fy and say that I am now eighty one years of age that I was well acquainted with Jonathan Taylor formerly of said Town and the husband of Martha Taylor now his widow. I have a distinct recollection that during the war of the Revolution the Militia of Little Compton were divided into two classes for the purpose of forming shore guards to guard against the enemy. These guards were stationed at various posts and guards houses all along the shore. There were generally about twenty or thirty men at a post together with a captain of guard who was generally a commissioned officer of the Militia Company of said Town. They were under the same rules and regulations as the State Troops and received pay and rations as they did. They served every other month. I heard and I have a dis- tinct recollection that said Jonathan did also that he always did his duty when it came to his turn to serve. These guards were kept up during all the time the enemy had possession of Newport and served about six months in each of the years 1777 78 and 79. I believe Jonathan Taylor always did the same others did.
John his Springer marks
Witness A. H. M. W. MELL
State of Rhode Island
Newport ss Little Compton November 8 th 1841
Then the above named John Springer appeared and made oath to the above statement and signed the same in my presence and I further certify said deposition is a credible person. Witness before me George C. Bailey Justice of Peace C. P.

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's office Dec 22. 1842
I Henry Bowen, Secretary of said State, and Keeper of the Records and the Seal thereof
Do certify, that at the session of the General Assembly of said State held on the First Wednesday of May last, George L Bailey was elected an Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Newport for one year and commissioned accordingly as appears of record.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said State at Providence the day & year above written.
Henry Bowen
Martha Dyer

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No.
22371
Martha Taylor Widow of Jonathan Taylor Brv. Rev. War
Act
July 7 th 1838
Index: Vol.
16
Page
265
[Arrangement of 1870.]