Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21,535, for Waterman Tibbitts, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.I.
Tibbitts, Waterman
S 21,535
CONTENTS

Rhode Island Waterman, Vippets First entry in the State of Rhode Island in the County of Washington Waterman, Vippets 2 Years.
Granted on the Roll of the State of Rhode Island at the rate of - 80 - Dollars per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Sept 1831 and first Yearly Pay Paid at Newport R.I.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1831 $200.00 Semi-annual allowance ending April 1832 40.00 $240.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by N.H. Hudson Clerk Book 8 Vol. 30 Page 132

No 25751
Waterman Tibbitts Street County Rhode Island
5 th  Bravo 2 years Admiral
Hon. Alvin J. Pierce Knopf R.I.
B.L. Beale

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Waterman Tibbets Kent County Rhode Island
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Ordered out April 1775 — — 10 private under the following named officers to-wit. 92 years Traditional evidence & two witnesses certified credible - proper correct   Served June 1775 — — — " Christopher Lysally, Kent County   Served 1776 — 6 — " Thomas Rice, Starbuck Rhode Island   Served 1777 — 8 — " Hudson, Robt. Rhodes,   Served 1778 — 4 — " Captains, —   Served 1779 — 3 — " Col Waterman, Colonel   Served 1780 — 2 — " Lew,   Served 1781 — 2 — "  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this                      day of                      personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of                      in the county of                      and State, Territory or District of                      aged (c)                      years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)                      , with                      and served in the                      (e) regiment of the                      line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                      of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                      for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of                      &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the                      and C. D. residing in (the same)                      , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                      , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the 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 it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                      and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the                      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                      Clerk of the Court of                      do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

No 25751
Waterman Tibbitts Sheriff's County Rhode Island
50 d  Bruto 2 Years Adm de
Hon. Alston J. Pierce Knopf R.I.
B.L. Beale

State of Rhode Island &c County of Kent &c
On the 10 th day of June A D 1893 personally appeared Maternus in open court before the Court of Probate of the Town of Warwick in said County of Kent now sitting Maternus Gobbitt of a resi- dent in said Warwick aged Ninety two years who being put duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7 th 1892
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers. That he was born in said Warwick on the 18 th day of April A D 1741 where he has ever since resided. That his age was recorded in the family bible of his father who lately de- ceased in the State which was given to his sister & carried to her residence in the State of New York. That in April 1775 on the alarm of the Battle of Lexington he was ordered to march with the militia of said town and marched as far as Pawtucket when the order was countermanded and that he was at that time on duty as much as ten days.
That on the formation of the Minutemen companies in June 1775 he became a member of one of said companies and continued therein until said companies were again embodied in the militia in February 1776 and served during said period continually.
That he then became a member of the alarm company & continued therein to the end of the war of the revolution. That by reason of old age and the loss of one consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but accor- ding to the best of his recollection he served besides the service aforesaid, in the year 1776. Six months
in the year 1777 eight months in the year 1778 four months in the year 1779 three months in the year 1780 two months and the year 1781 two months. That he served under the

following named officers to wit Christopher Sewall Thomas Rice Stukely Henderson Robert Rhodes captain that he served under Col John Waterman and Col John Sow that the principal part of said service was in the town of Warwick at a place called Old Warwick and at Nausaucket on said once on Rhode Island in Sullivan expedition once in the town of Newport
That he has no documentary evidence of his services and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to an annuity or pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
His Attest John W. Tibbitts - Tibbitts John W. Tibbitts marks
Subscribed and Sworn to in Open Court June 10 th 1833
Witness Charles Brewster Probate Clerk

I Nathan Waterman of Warwick in the county of Kent Right aged Three Four or five doth depose and say that I am well acquainted with Waterman with the within declarant I said him in the service of the revolution at many different times of one month at a time that I saw him in the service also at Newport where he served one month & I think in September 1781 that I served with him at that time also. That I also saw him in the service at Pawtucket in said Warwick. That I saw him in the service at Old Warwick as many as ten different times during the revolutionary war that I have always resided within  with two miles of the said Waterman with that he belonged to the militia company mentioned in his declaration
Attest John W. Tibbitts his William + Waterman mark Subscribed and sworn to on Oath Court June 10 th 1833 witness C Mayhew Probate Clerk
I Nathan Miller of Warwick in the county of Kent or doth depose and say that I am well acquainted with Waterman with the within declarant that I saw him in the service during the revolutionary war several different times once at Pawtucket in said Warwick where he served at one month that I was there in service, once at Warwick neck where he served one month in the same company with me & that I have seen him on duty many different times upon alarms where he served from two to seven days at a time
Attest John W. Tibbitts his Nathan + Miller mark Subscribed and sworn to on Oath Court June 10 th 1833 witness C Mayhew Probate Clerk

And the Thomas Manchester as clergyman resident in West Greenwich but late a resident in said Warwick and Rhode Island Joseph Arnold St long, resident in said Warwick do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Manchester St the within declarant that we believe him to be ninety two years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Thos Manchester Joseph Arnold (S.6.)
And the said board do hereby declare their opinion after the inves- tigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the said board further cer- tifies that it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in
the neighbourhood of the said applicant that Thomas Manchester who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in West Greenwich in this state that he was lately and for a long time a resident in said Warwick and now has the pastoral care of a church therein that Joseph Arnold St who has also signed the same is a resident in said Warwick and is a credible person and that William Waterman and Nathan Miller who have signed the preceding affidavits are also credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit
25-752 Nathan Miller
I Charles Mayhew clerk of the said board of Probate of the said town of Warwick do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said board in the matter of the application of the said St for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth of office this tenth day of June in the year 1833
Charles Mayhew Probate Clerk

On the Seventh day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Kent Waterman Dibbitt within named and being duly sworn deposes and saith that in the year 1775 he served in the minute company mentioned in his declaration for months actual field duty that during the residue of the time in which he belonged to said minute company he was obliged to have his arms & three days provision ready to march at a minutes warning that Christopher Severy commanded said company
That he performed all the services mentioned as performed in the year 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 & 1781 being draughted from said company mentioned in his declaration That the during the time of these services aforesaid he was not engaged in any civil pursuit That he served during his whole service as a private aforesaid as a private and private only in garrison at Old Newbern but sometimes in field duty
That he never received any written discharge That he is known to the following persons in his neighbourhood who will bear testimony to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution to wit Joseph Arnold S.C. William McIntosh Alexander Haver Charles Mayton Waterman Dibbitt Mark
Taken subscribed and sworn to before me this seventh day of August A.D. 1833
Geo. A. D. Justice of the Peace

I Silas Weaver Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for the County of Kent in the State of Rhode Island do hereby certify that George A. Brayton who has subscribed the annexed certificate is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County and that the annexed signature is his genuine signature and that Just faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official Acts.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this Twenty- th seventh day of August in the year 1833.—
Silas Weaver Clerk

open Dum J. Rane FILE
Mrs. Mary B. Bales, Esq. Pinehurst Office Washington D. Columbia

Newport September 8 th 1893
Dear Sir, the enclosed publication of Hawaiian Librettos from Mountain in your, please be so kind as to pay upon as soon as possible — truly yours
curiously forwarded Sept 21 st 1893 G. C. Johnson
Arthur J. Pease
W. L. Brall, Esq.

Revolution 21535 INVALID.
File No. 21,535
Waterman D. H. H.
Dis Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 412
[Arrangement of 1870.]