Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 41549-160-55, for William Lee, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Sea Service
Lee, William Anstis
B.L.W. 41549-160-55
CONTENTS

No roll of Tyrone in this office.
Vol L = 59
Feb 17 1813 133,424 1/2 1/2
Artist's See 16 William De (Stewart)
On Board Ship Tyrone in the Navy yard of the Revolution Bur at Boston 12 May 1779 Dis Sept 1811 in D. dly M 1 See 16 Spn. widach Cin A Jan 6 1816 Aug 9/56 160 acres May 23/56 (he)
Heasr Dept. L. & U. S. Office May 22 The rolls of the Tyrone are on file in this Office A. B. [unintelligible] 4 [unintelligible]
Benj a Cowell Providence R. I.

Aristis Lee
133/440

State of Rhode Island, &c.
County of Washington
On this 8 th day of May A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-five, personally appeared before me, Sylvester G Sherman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court within aforesaid County, and State, Austin Lee aged 90 years, who being duly sworn according to law, declares and says she is the widow of William Lee late of the City of Providence deceased, who was a Steward on the company commanded by Capt. Board the Ship Tyrannicide a public armed vessel in the Navy of the Revolution, being the war of the Revolution in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1779; that her husband enlisted at Boston on or about the twelfth day of May A. D. 1779 for the term of no definite time and continued in actual service for the term of over three months and was honorably discharged at
She further states that she was married to the said William Lee in Providence on the 25 th day of September A. D. 1811 by Rev. Stephen Gano that her name before her marriage was Austin Updike - and that her said husband died at Providence on the 20 th day of October A. D. 1814 and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty to which she may be entitled, under the Act approved March 3d, 1855. And she further declares that she now resides in North Kingstown in said County of Washington that when the act of Congress of February 3 d 1853 was passed granting pensions to widows of the officers & soldiers of the Revolution, she made an attempt to avail herself of the benefits of said act but was advised that she was not entitled, but she is now entitled to Bounty land according to the provisions of the above act of March 3 1855. Her said husband enlisted on board the Ship Tyrannicide, as a petty officer, in the service of the United States in what was called the "Penobscott Expedition" in 1779 which vessel was commanded by Capt. John Calhoun as will appear by the certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereto annexed.  Austin Lee

We Alfred Updegraff - and Isaac C. Chamberlain residents of North Kingston in the said County of Washington & State of Rhode Island upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed & acknowledged by said Austin Lee in our presence and that we believe from the appearance & statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
Alfred Updegraff Isaac C. Chamberlain
The foregoing declaration & affidavit were sworn to before me on the day & year above written; And I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
Sylvester G. Greene Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court

Providence May 4 th 1855
I hereby certify that I have in my possession the Record Book of Marriages by the Rev. Stephen Gurn deceased late Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Providence; that I hold possession of the same by virtue of being Executor to his last Will & Testament; and I further certify that it appears from the said Records that William Lee and Ansel's Wife were united in marriage on the twenty fifth day of September One Thousand Eight Hundred & Eleven
Attest
Joseph Rogers
Executor as aforesaid

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
CLERK'S OFFICE, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
PROVIDENCE,
May 10 th A. D., 1853
I, Amasa S. Westcott
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester S. Sherman was on the eighth day of May A. D. 1853 an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of said State duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledg- ment of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written.
Clerk.

I Alfred Updegraff of State Kingston in the County of Washington, and State of Rhode Island aged sixty six - 76 years, in solemn oath do testify and say that Sister Lee, Sister Lee of said Town, an Applicant for Bounty Land, is now the Widow of William Lee - The said William Lee, died many years ago and ever since his death, she has remained her Widow - and is now his Widow - Alfred Updegraff
State of Rhode Island gr - Washington ss -
I sum to and subscribed before me this fourteenth 14 th day of August 1886 by said Alfred Updegraff - And I further certify that he is well known to me, and that he is a credible Witness - Stephen G. Sherman Judge of the Supreme Court

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
CLERK'S OFFICE, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
PROVIDENCE. August 13 th A. D., 185 6
1. Amasa S. Westcott
Clerk of the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS of said State, within and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester S. Sherman is & was on the 14 th day of August A. D. 1856 a Judge of the Supreme Court of said State
duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments, and that the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written.
Amasa S. Westcott Clerk.

Providence Aug 15 1856 Sir
I duly recd your letter of the 8 th inst respecting the claim of Austus Lee widow of William Lee for Bounty Land No 133,440 during further proof of the death of the husband & present widowhood to be produced. Such proof is herewith enclosed, the affidavit of Alfred Updike Esq. I have therefore to request that the claim be granted -
I am Respectfully Yours affecly Bryon Correll
Hon J. Collins

5 41,549
5
Rev. Ames

Providence July 31 1856
Sir
On the 11 of May 1855 I sent to the Pension office the claim of Austin Lee widow of William Lee for Bounty land under the act of March 3 d 1855 - for services performed in the Navy, during the war of the Revolution - with her claim a Certificate of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, of the services done & performed by him, which certificate I have reason to believe is now among her papers - Her claim was received & numbered 133,440, Her husband served 3 months & 26 days on board the Tamaric under Capt John Calhoun in 1779, in the public service of the United States as made appear by said Certificate, I have to request that her claim be examined & a land warrant granted, -
I am Respectfully your abt Secy
Benja Cowell
Hon J Clinot

R Rev Bounty Land
L. M c Adams
Wm Lee
Oct 20/50
415 49
Reston

Pension Office Oct r 25. 1880
Sir,
In reply to your letter of June 14 th last (to the Secretary of the Interior) and the 24 th instant, respecting the claim to Bounty Land arising under the service of William Lee in the Revolutionary war, I have to inform you that after a thorough examination, no evidence in support of such claim can be found. The Rolls only of the New Hampshire line to which the regiment of Colonel Kelley belonged, but of all the Eastern Continental Lines have been examined, and the name of William Lee is not returned in the list of either Officers or men, among those who were enlisted in or have received Bounty Land from the U. States. The probability is that he left the service at an early period of the war; and as no one became entitled to bounty land unless he enlisted "for the war" and served until its close in 1783, he could not have acquired any claim thereto.
I am Sir
J. M c Adam Esqr 641 John Street New York

Providence May 11 1855 Sir
I herewith enclose the claims of Abigail Spencer widow of Lawton Spencer Agustin Lee widow of William Lee & Sabra Kent widow of Joseph Kent - for County lands under the act of March 3 d 1855 all Revolutionary claims which I have to request may be allowed I am very Respectfully Yours at least Briza Lowell
Hon L P Waldo

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
April 26 1853.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name William Lee is borne on the roll of the Ship Sylvania , Capt John Calhoun, as Steward from May 12, 1779. Musters 26 days.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. W. Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

To the Hon E. M. Wright Secretary of Massachusetts:-
Sir
My late husband William Lee late of the City of Providence but formerly of Massachusetts, from Swansea or Somerset was a soldier in the war of the Revolution & served I believe both in the army & navy but it is not in my power to name the officers under whom he served. He served a year I believe in the "Penobscot expedition" in 1779, I believe also he was in "Arnold's expedition" to Canada before that time & during the war was in various companies & regiments. I request therefore that the Rolls of Military & Naval Service in your office be examined & a certificate of his service - By a recent act of Congress I have reason to believe I am entitled to a pension & the certificate is wanted for that purpose -
Wickford April 14 1853 Annotis Lee Signed by said Annotis Lee in my presence
Sylvester G. Drown Apr 19 th 1853 Jos. P. Drown