Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13598, for Robert Knight, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.I.
Knight, Robert Elizabeth
N. 13598
CONTENTS

See let to Hon. A.K.K. Knight. February 15. 1841.
Rhode Island 3370 3270
Elizabeth Knight widow of Robert Knight
who died on the 31 st July 1823 of Kent Co. in the State of R. Island who was a Pr. Dragoon in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the regt. commanded by Col. Stark  Stark in the R. Island line for 15 months R.D.
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 62 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of June 1840 and sent to Hon. A.K.K. Knight, Senate U. States
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 562.50 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 st Sept. " 31.25
$593.75
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 — }
Recorded by D. Brown Book C. Vol. 1. Page 95 Clerk,

Elizabeth Knight 5700
R.S.
Act 4 July 36
m. 69. d. 23
In let. to Hon. N. R. Knight
June 22 d 1840 -
admd
15 mo. Dragoon
$62.50
No deduction
Hon. N. R. Knight, Senate U.S.

State of Rhode Island &
County of Kent
On this day of March  July 18, personally appeared before me James Brown one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas within aged 77 years  said County Elizabeth Knight, now resident in Warwick in said County who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of July 4 th AD 1836. viz that she is the widow of Robert Knight formerly of Cranston in the County of Providence who was a soldier of the Revolution that he belonged to a Corps of Cavalry called the "Captain General's Lancers" under the command of Col Benjamin Mark & Col Mantoue did service therein during all the War, either as a non commissioned officer or private, and she further declares that she was married to the said Robert Knight on the 12 day of June AD 1769 as will appear by the records of said Cranston a copy whereof is hereto annexed duly attested by the Town

Clerk. Her husband the said Robert de- parted this life July 31 st 1823 since and his death she has remained unmarried wherefore she requests that a pension may be granted pursuant to the provisions of the act of said - Elizabeth Knight Witnps. Nathan M. Stone Mark
Went Jc. In Warwick this second day of January D o 1840 Personally came before me the above named Elizabeth Knight and made Oath to the truth of the above Declaration by her signed - and I further certify said Elizabeth is too old and infirm to attend Court - and that Her statements are entitled to full credit. John Brown Jus. C.C. Pleas

I, Robert Knight of the City & County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island, being now fifty eight years of age, do testify & say that Elizabeth Knight who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration is my Mother and the said Robert Knight mentioned in said declaration was my Father.
My said father died on the last day of July 1823. I was present when he died.
Since that period my mother has remained a Widow, and remarried. Robert Knight
State of Rhode Island &
Providence Jr. Providence June 15, 1840. Then Personally appeared Robert Knight Esquire, well known to me to be a credible witness & made oath that the above statement by him subscribed is true
Before me William H Smith
Notary of the Peace

I hereby certify that Robert Knight Jew of Cranston and Elizabeth Hammond daughter of Capt Amos Hammond of Scituate, was lawfully joined together in marriage this twelfth day of November A.D. one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine.
Before me the subscriber for Jeremiah Angell Justice Peace
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Providence ss Cranston April 30 th 1840
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy from the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in full, legible figures as follows "12 th day of November A.D. 1769"
Jesse Howard Town Clerk
I Jesse Howard above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the town of Cranston, in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island, and that the above is a true extract from the record of said town with the exception above named as certified by me
Jesse Howard Town Clerk of the town of Cranston
Sworn to May 8 th 1840.
Before Thomas Burgess Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Providence -

I Frederick Manton of Johnston in the county of Providence, & State of Rhode Island on oath, do testify and say, that I am now seventy seven years of age. That I was well acquainted with Robert Knight, formerly of Cranston, in said county & State and the husband of Elizabeth Knight now his widow and residing in Warwick in said State. Said Robert and myself were both members of a corps of Cavalry called the Captain General's Cavalry, under the command of Col. Benjamin Black and after him under the command of Col. Daniel Manton and we served together in said company during the war of the Revolution from the year 1776 until the close of the war. I joined said corps in 1776, and the said Robert, belonged to it when I joined it. According to the best of my recollection, and as nearly as I can describe the several tours of duty, they were as follows. I cannot recollect now, so well as I could a few years ago, when I made my application for a pension, but have still a perfect recollection of the fact of service. In September 1776, our corps was ordered to the Island of Rhode Island, where we were stationed six weeks, from thence we were ordered to Tower Hill, in South Kingston,

where we were stationed five weeks, and from thence to Point Judith, where we were stationed two months. The enemy landed and took possession of Newport, while we were at this station. We served from said September, to January 1777, four months at least, for which we were paid and received rations. Point Judith is about thirty five miles from our home. In the Spring following, as early as May 1777, our company was again called out and ordered to Bristol, and then we were divided into detach- ments, and placed at different points along the shore towns, for the purpose of keeping guard, and also for the purpose of carrying expresses , being mounted. In this manner we served until Spencer expedition in October, and until November, for which we received pay and rations, five months at least. In 1778, we were called out in the Spring according to my best recollection in April, went to Wester- ville, twelve miles from home, from thence went to Bristol, and served until June. Then we had leave to go home to get hay, but before leaving time was over, we were again called out in Stillman's Expedition, in the latter part of July, and we served from this time, until the last of October. We served from April to June two months, and from July to October three months, making in all five months, this year for which we were paid and received rations. In 1779

in June, we were again ordered out, and went to Wickford, about twenty five miles from home, divided into small detachments, and served until the enemy left Rhode Island, four months at least, for which were paid and received rations. In 1780 we were ordered to Providence, about four miles from home, were stationed at the house of one farmer Lord, and served until April three months at least. And again in the Summer, in consequence of the expectation that the enemy would again take possession of Newport, our company was again ordered to the Island of Rhode Island, divided into detachments, and served in Newport, and just out of the town, until late in the fall. We served six months this year at least. In 1781, in March, we were again called down to Newport, and served until June, three months at least. The said Robert during all the preceding services, was a private, according to the best of my recollection. Said company did a great deal of service during the war, and was the only mounted company for a long time in the State.
Jeremiah Marden

State of Rhode Island &c Providence 1 o Jan. 21. 1860 Then the within named Jeremiah Manton Subrecil and made oath to the within before me And I further certify that said Jeremiah is a credible witness.
William Aglin
Public Notary

I Esah Brown of Gloucester, in the County of Providence and State of Rhode-Island do, on oath, do testify and say, that I am now in the eighty-sixth year of my age, that during the war of the Revolution, I belonged to a company of Cavalry called the Captain Generals Cavalry, under the command of Col. Benjamin Flock and afterwards under Col. Daniel Manton, I belonged to it from the from the beginning to the end of the war, but I am now so old my memory is so far, that I cannot specify the various military services I did whilst I belonged to it, but our company did a great deal of service, I further testify and say that I remember a man of the name of Dwight, and I think his name was Robert, who was a private in said company and served with us. I believe the said Robert served the same as others did but I cannot specify his services other than only referring to my own declaration now in the pension office.
Esah Brown
Providence } June 10 th . 1840. in Salem Gloucester, then personally appeared before me Esah Brown, subscriber to the foregoing deposition, and made solemn oath of the truth of the same, and I do further certify that said Esah Brown is a credible witness.
Gamaliel B. Smith Public Notary.

I Edward Waterman of Johnston in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island, do testify & say that I am Eighty years of age, that I was well acquainted with Robert Knight formerly of Cranston in said County the husband of Elizabeth Knight now his widow, resident in Warwick in the said State; that in the Spring of 1780, I joined a troop of horse called the Captain General's Cavaliers, under the Command of Colonel Daniel Manton; Caleb Harris was the second officer in Command; that when I joined said troop said Robert Knight was a private in said Corps and continued to be a member of said Corps till the close of the war. How long before I joined said troop of horse the said Robert joined it, I do not know, but I believe he was a member from its first organization.
I remember that Robert was with us in said troop on a short tour of duty at Bristol in August in 1780, being the same year I joined it.
Edward Waterman
State of Rhode Island, ss.
Providence County ss. In the city of Providence on this 6 day of January 1840, Edward Waterman subscribed to the above statement personally came & made oath to the truth of the same, before me I certify that said Waterman is a credible witness
William H. Smith Justice of the Peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretarys Office June 16. 1840.
I Henry Bowen, Secretary of said State and Keeper of the Records and the Seal thereof, Do certify, that at the date of the official Certificates severally annexed, the said John Brown was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Kent. Thomas Burgess, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Providence. William Aplin and Gamaliel I Dwight Public Notarys within said County of Providence, and William H Smith, Justice of the Peace for the City of Providence in said County of Providence, duly elected and commissioned, as appears of record.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of said State at Providence, the day and year first above written
Henry Bowen

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MMNF air
August 25, 1926
Mrs. Burton A. Crane 935 West Ninth St., Erie, Penn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 13598 it appears that Robert Knight , while a resident of Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, enlisted as a private in a corps known as the "Captain General's Cavaliers" and commanded by Colonels Benjamin Slack and Daniel Manton, Rhode Island Troops, and served as follows:
From September 1776, four months, from May 1777, five months and was in General Spencer's Expedition, from April 1778, five months and was in General Sullivan's Rhode Island Expedition, from June 1779, four months, from January 1780 three months, then from the summer of 1780, three months, and from March 1781, three months. He died July 31, 1823.
Soldier married November 12, 1769 in Cranston, Rhode Island (he was then of said Cranston and recorded as Robert Knight, Junior), Elizabeth Hammond, daughter of Captain Amos

Hammond of Scituate. She was allowed pension on her application executed January 2, 1840 while a resident of Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island aged eighty-nine years.
Their son Robert was living in Providence, Rhode Island in 1840 aged fifty-eight years. No other children referred to.
The above noted is the only Elizabeth Knight of Kent County, Rhode Island, widow of a Revolutionary War soldier, found on the records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Washington D.C. Feb'y 12. 1841
Col. Edwards Commis r . of pensions
Sir
Enclosed herewith is the deposition of Col. Jeremiah Manton containing further proof of the service of Robert Knight the husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Knight. It will be recollected that Mrs. Knight filed her declaration more than a year past and a certificate issued for a part of her claim. She now asks a pension for the remainder of the service as proved by Col. Manton. He testifies that Robert Knight was in the service all the time that he (Manton) served & refers to his own declaration of June 1832 for the times & places of the service, all which is on file in your office. The deposition is taken by Mrs. Dwight the same person who heretofore performed similar service in her case & a certificate of the Sec'y of State declaring him to be legally authorized was attached to those depositions. I know Mrs. Dwight personally & know her

to be a public Notary in the City of Providence
Respectfully yours
A. K. Wright

The Commis n . of pensions

E. Knight
Hon. N. R. Knight H. D. 2

I, Jeremiah Norton of Johnson, in the County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island &c. in oath, do tes- tify and say further, in reference to the services of Robert Knight, former- ly the husband of Elizabeth Knight, as I before stated, I joined the caps of Cransbury under the command of Colonel Benjamin Black in the year 1776, and continued in it until the end of the war. When I joined it, said Robert belonged to it. He was a private, private, and he continued to serve in it until the end of the war also. He, said Robert, did the same ser- vices as I did. When I made my second  last declaration under the act of June 7 th . a. d. 1832, I then speci- fied all the services I did according to the best of my recollection, and I now refer to that declaration for the services which the said Robert perform- -ed, he having performed the same as I did. I intended so to be understood in my former affidavit for the said Elizabeth Knight. Jeremiah Norton Providence R. I. Providence, on this

eighth day of February, A. D. 1841, per- -sonally appeared before me, Jeremiah Shanton, subscriber to the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath of the truth of the same, and I do hereby certify that said Jeremiah Shan- ton is a credible witness.
Samuel Lyman Dwight
Public Notary.

June 23 1840
R 2
Col. Edwards
commis n of pensions
pension office
Hon. N. R. Knight, Senate U.S.

Dear Sir
Senate Chamber June 23 d 1840
Your letter of yesterday is this moment rec d .
M c Manton's recollections may not have been correct as to length of service - he is now an old man, but a highly respectable gentleman, & I have no doubt honestly related all things as they appeared to him at the time - But if the Commis s supposes that the discrepancies in his statement will not permit the full allowance claimed by Mrs Elizabeth Wright , then the Commis s is requested to make a certificate for so much as appears to him to be just & proper - With great respect
Yours &c
N P Wright
Commis s of pensions

Col. Edwards
Commis. n of Pensions, -
Sir - Enclose you the papers of Mrs. Elizabeth Knight widow of Robert Knight claiming a pension for the services of her husband in the War of the Revolution. - If further evidence is required, there is on file in your department a commissary's book of Jones stationed at Providence (Mr. Asa Waterman) by which it appears that provisions were issued to the Captain Genl. s Cavalry in the same Company of which Mr. Knight the husband of the claimant was a member. - I presume there is no necessity of further proof on that point as several persons have recd. pensions for services in this same Company. - Will you cause these papers to be examined and advise me of the result? -
Respectfully yours
J. R. Knight
June 19, 1840

Jeremiah Norton.
  Sept 76  Capt Genl. Caviliss.  P. of R. I.  7 June 52 (3.15)  mo 4-    77  5 mo. including  Yucatan expedition -      78  Spring apt to June.  Warren & Bristol -   2-    "  July to Oct.  Sullivan expedition   3-    79  June  Wickford   4-    80  Jan'y to - apt  Providence  (7 June 52 several times)  3-    "  Summer  P. R. I.   3-    87  March  Newport  X (2 mo)  3-  
24.100.1500 (62.50) 144 60 240 1200

Jan. 11/93-Host Lt. Dr. Calvin Knight Providence P.I.
Mar. 6, 1896 Widow pensioned to Lt. L. D. Greene Hot Springs, Ark.
1917 Apr. 21. Hist. to Christopher Rhodes & Wm 1926 Aug. 25-Hist. to Mrs. Burton Crane
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 13598
Elizabeth Knight
Wid. of
Robert Knight
Dragon Prov. Wash.
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 408
[Arrangement of 1870.]

a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Robert Knight N. 13,598.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept. 1776 4 mos.   May 1777 5 "   Feb. 1778 5 " Private Captain General's Benjamin Stock R.I.   June 1779 4 " Cavalry Daniel Merton Cavalry   Jany. 1780 3-2/3   Mch. 1781 3 "  
Battles engaged in, ✓ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cranston, Providence R.I. Date of application for pension, Jany. 2 1840. Her claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Warwick, Kent Co., Rhode Island Age at date of application, 60-61 years.
Remarks: Copy of Cranston recd. & copy of Robert Knight (widow of Cranston) & Elizabeth (Widow and daughter of Capt. Amos Merton) of Scituate married Nov 12, 1764. Soldier died July 31, 1823. Son Robert at 58 yrs. in 1840 is the only child referred to.
Respectfully,
(Signature of Official)  6-2856
Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 189
Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Robert Knight Jr., a soldier of the Revolutionary War, I have to inform you that his widow, Elizabeth Hammond, (maiden name) makes the following statement
in her declaration for pension on file in this office relative to his services "He belonged to a corps of cavalry called 'The Captain Generals Cavaliers' and under the command of Cols. Benjamin Slack and Col. Manton and did service therein all during the war". She applied for pension which was allowed January 2, 1840., at which time she was a resident of Warwick, R. I., and 89 years of age.
Owing to the large number of inquiries of this character an earlier reply was impracticable.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Dr. Edwin H. Knight,
190 Broadway, R
Providence, R. I.

MRS. BURTON ASHLEY CRANE 935 WEST NINTH ST. ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
July 2nd, 1926.
Bureau of Pensions, Dept. of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
Rev. War Dept.
May I have copy of the application papers, or pension record, of the Elizabeth Knight, who is listed in the 1840 Pension Roll of Coventry Rhode Island, as living with Lawton Johnson, aged 90 years ?
Also of Martha Tabor, in the same list, aged 96 years, living with Caleb S. Knight, in Newport ?
Very truly yours,
Mary Knight Crane

PRESIDENT, HOWARD VERNON ALLEN, EAST GREENWICH, R. I.
VICE-PRESIDENT, WILLIAM ANGELL VIALL, P. O. Box 1385.
SECRETARY, CHRISTOPHER RHODES, 290 BENEFIT STREET.
TREASURER, ARTHUR PRESTON SUMNER, 639 GROSVENOR BUILDING.
RHODE ISLAND SOCIETY
REGISTRAR, FRANCIS ELIOT BATES, P. O. Box 1254.
HISTORIAN, EDWIN AYLSWORTH BURLINGAME, 359 BROOK STREET.
CHAPLAIN, REV. CHARLES FREMONT ROPER, RIVER POINT, R. I.
POET, DR. GEORGE THURSTON SPICER, 306 OLNEY STREET.
PROVIDENCE, R. I.,
Apr 12 1917
Dear Sir
Will you please send me a certificate of the service of Robert Knight Jr who was a Revolutionary Soldier who lived in Cranston, R. I.
There was an Elizabeth Knight of Coventry who drew a pension - date June 1840, allowed. Elizabeth Hammond Knight was wife of Robert Knight Jr. which may be the one named. Please send me all the particulars in file of application, as visible.
Yours Respectfully Christopher Rhodes Secretary

EDWARD BALCH KNIGHT MED. DOCTOR HARV.
190 Broadway.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. June 6 1892
Please send me record of service of Robert Knight Jr on which his widow Anna pension. He served in the war of the Revolution, was from Cranston, County of Providence, State of Rhode Island.
Reply Edward B. Knight
If there are fees due for above notify me and I will remit.