Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21479, for Stanton Sheffield, Rhode Island

SERVICE
Sheffield, Stanton
NUMBER _____
NUMBER S. 21479
CONTENTS

27400 Rhode Island
Stanton Sheffield
of Charlestown in the State of R.I. who was an inmate in the Comfy commanded by Captain Parsons of the Nige r commanded by Capt Noyes in the R.I.
time for 15 Months Inmate
new Certificate of the ten of this dated Oct 8. 1834. Sent to Mr. O'Neill Kingston R.I.
admitted on the Roll of No 1. the rate of 50 - Dollars Cents per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of May 1834 and sent to William P. Newell Esq r Kingston R.I.
Arrears to the 14th of Mar: 1833. $100 Semi-annual allowance ending 37 4 $137 4
{ Revolutionary Claim, for June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 2 Vol. Page 130
[Faint handwritten text, possibly "Issued in..." or "Sent to..."]

30716
Stanton Sheffield of Charleston County of Washington
William P. Knapp Esq. Kingston R.I.
Nov 18 1841

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832
State of Rhode Island &c. County of Washington ss. / Town of Charlestown, On this 23 rd day of February AD 1833
personally appeared before me Horace Dimes, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, within & for said County of Washington, Stanton Sheffield, a resident of Charlestown aforesaid, aged Seventy one years, who being first duly sworn  affirmed 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 1832 — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers & served as herein stated. That is to say; — That last of March or the first of April 1779, at said Charlestown, he was drafted from a company of militia of that town, to which he then belonged, commanded by Capt. John Darks, whose Lieut. was one Horace Dimes, Christopher Babcock, for a period of one month to guard the shore against the incursions of the enemy from Watch Hill in the Town of Westerly, round to Point Judith in the Town of South Kingston in said County of Washington, and more especially to guard at Seanacontaugue Creek, a place in said Town of Charlestown, at which, at that time, were posted two cannon, and served out his aforesaid term of one month, in watching & guarding said shore. After the aforesaid one month's service, he says that for the purpose of guarding against the enemy from Watch Hill in the Town of Westerly

to Green Hill Association, as far Eastward as Point Judith in South Kingston, he was separately drafted out of said company from time to time & frequently volunteered for pe- riods of from fifteen to thirty days each from the spring of 1777, to the latter part of the year 1780 1781. He served out all said periods according to, for which he was so drafted and volunteered. He never received a pay for the same; And although it is not now in his power to state particularly the dates of those periods of service or with certainty the number of his mind & memory on the number of days & weeks; of periods that he served, yet he can safely state his willing accordingly to declare, that all those periods for which he was drafted & volunteered served from the spring of 1777, to the latter part of the year 1780, in guarding the coast from Watch Hill to Point Judith, amount together to fifteen months at the least: And he further says that in the mean time between the spring of 1777 & the close of the year 1780, in addition to the aforemen- tioned services, he was drafted or detached from the militia in Charles Town in Au- gust 1778 for a period of one month and marched on to the Island of Rhode Island under Capt. Park in Col. Vose's Regt. He served out this month on R Island - and further in further addition, he was again as said Charles Town, drafted in August 1779 for a term of thirty days, and ordered away to the four corners, so called, in the town of North Kingstown in said County of Washington, where he served out this period; he thinks, under Capt. Stew- art; all his services in guarding the shore as afore stated were in Col. Vose's Regt. He says his other services were in the grade of a private Noggs' Regt. And he said his last field declares, that he faithfully per-

formed all the periods of service herein set forth in defense of his country. And he further declares that he was born in said Charles town on the 27th day of March 1781 where from his birth to the present time he has al ways resided; that he has no record of his birth or age; that he does not remember that he ever had any written discharge from any of his said services; but was therefrom unballily discharged by his commanding officer; that he has no documentary evidence of any of said services. That he is not acquainted with any clergy man in his vicinity or neighbourhood but refers to David Mitchell Esquire & other citizens of said town of Charles town & his neighbours, who testify to his character for veracity & their belief that he was a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the organ ce of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & Stanton X Sheffield year of our Lord. Before me Mark
Honore Barry justice C.C. Pleas
We Edward F. Dorr Esq. and Joshua Clarke residing in the town of Charles town in said county of Washington hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Stanton Sheffield who has sworn & subscribed to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is respected & believed, in the neigh bourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution. That we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year 1818 1819. Edward F. Dorr Joshua Clarke
And I the said Honore Barry justice of the Court of Common Pleas as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter

and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that Stanton Sheffield, the above named applicant, was a revolutionary soldier, I served as he states: I find I do further certify that it appears to me that Edward William  William  and  others who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in said town of Charlestown. I have credible persons that their statement is entitled to credit. And I also certify that the cause of the foregoing declaration & proceeding therein before me, which was at the dwelling house of the said Stanton Sheffield in said Charlestown, is, that he the said Sheffield by reason of his bodily infirmity, has been for a considerable time last past, & still is, confined to his house & unable to appear in court.
Hoxsie Perry justice C.C. Peace
I the said Hoxsie Perry justice of said court do hereby certify that the foregoing on this sheet of paper contains the original proceedings by & before me, in the matter of the application of Stanton Sheffield for a pension. In testimony whereof I have set my hand in my official official capacity. This 23 rd day of February 1833.
Hoxsie Perry justice C.C. Peace
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Washington St & Clerk's Office Court Common Pleas for said County April
21. A.D. 1833 I Samuel Helme Clerk of said Court of Common
Pleas do hereby certify that Hoxsie Perry Esq. whose signature in his own proper hand writing is affixed to his preceding attestation of the foregoing declaration of Stanton Sheffield, for a pension was at the time thereof and now is a justice of said Court of Common Pleas duly commissioned under the seal of said State and otherwise qualified as such. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court. The Twenty Ninth day of April A.D. 1833
Sam: Helme Clerk

I Sarah Sheffield of Charlestown in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island &c. aged Eightyfour Years on both sides and saw that during the whole period of the Revolutionary war between the United States and Great Britain, Stanton Sheffield of said Charlestown and this Deponent lived in the same family in said Town of Charlestown within one hundred rods of the sea. There an Quonontaug Neck and near a Guard house where was a Military post and stationed two large Guns Stationed during the war. This Deponent remembers that soon after the Enemy took possession of Rhode Island the said Stanton entered the Service against the Enemy as a volunteer in Guarding the Shores of said Charlestown and during the time the Enemy had possession of Rhode Island a period of about three years. This Deponent knows that the said Stanton served often and much of the time with other Soldiers in watching and Guarding against the Enemy from watch hill point in Westerly in County of Washington to Green hill in South Kingstown in said County. Sometimes he served as a volunteer and sometimes he was drafted. This Deponent thinks that all the periods of the said Stanton's service on the shores during the time the Enemy had possession of Rhode Island put together would amount to one year. His performed service in guarding against the Enemy considerable. This Deponent should judge a number of months after the Enemy left Rhode Island; but not so much as before the Enemy left. This Deponent also remembers that the said Stanton was drafted and she understands at the time served one month at Sullivan's Expedition on Rhode Island; and that he was at another time drafted and served at a place called the four corners in North Kingstown in said County of Washington. This Deponent is the last of the said Stanton; and she also lived during the Revolution, with my father Nathaniel Sheffield Esq.
State of Rhode Island &c.
W. B. Sheffield
County of Washington ss. Town of Charlestown
September 27 th 1822. Personally appeared before me Sarah Sheffield of said Charlestown and after being duly cautioned & examined she swore to testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to the foregoing Deposition which was by me reduced to writing in her presence; and by her acknowledged in my presence. Said Deponent is well known to me, and she sustains a fair character for truth and her Deposition is entitled to Credit.
I swear Stanton justice of the Peace

I Silas Harvey of Charlestown in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island do hereby certify that Stanton Sheffield of said Charlestown do Depose and say that Stanton Sheffield of said Charlestown and myself were drafted from Captain Park's Company of Militia in said Charlestown for thirty days in the month of August 1778 and served on Rhode Island together said thirty days against the Enemy at Sullivan's Expedition in Colonel Dyer's Regiment. Silas his Harvey mark
State of Rhode Island & C Washington ss { Town of Charlestown September 26th 1832 Personally appeared before me Silas Harvey of said Charlestown and after being duly cautioned Examine & Sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, gave the foregoing Deposition which was by me reduced to writing in his presence and by him signed in my presence. Said Deposition is well known to me and he sus- tains a fair character for truth; and his Deposition is Entitled to Credit.
Samuel Stanton Justice of the Peace.
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Washington ss { Clerk's Office Court Common Pleas for said County April 29. 1833.
I hereby certify that Samuel Stanton Esq. whose Signature in his own proper hand Writing is Affixed to his foregoing Attestation of the preceding Depositions of Sarah Sheffield and Silas Harvey was at the time of thereof and now is a Justice of the Peace in the said Town of Charlestown duly Commissioned under the Seal of said State & thereunto duly Qualified as such. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court the day and Year aforesaid
SAM. HELME CLK

State of Rhode Island county of Washington ss. Town of Charlestown. on this third day of March 1834, person ally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Probate, now sit- ting within the said Town of Charle- stown, Anna Sheffield of said Char- lestown for oath deponeth & saith that she is sixty nine years of age & is the widow of Stanton Sheffield late of said Charlestown deceased, who in his life- time, on the twenty third day of February 1833, at Charlestown aforesaid, in the presence of this deponent made her account before Mr. Justin Perry his declaration of the last of her own free date, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832; that on the fifth day of February 1822 at Charlestown aforesaid, this de- ponent was lawfully intermarried with the said Stanton Sheffield since from the time she so intermarried with him, she continued to be his wife & to live with him in the bonds of matrimony until his decease, which occurred in her house on the 18 th day of March 1833. This deponent is believed that the said

Stanton Sheffield performed at the least as many months services in de- fence of her country in the Revolu- tionary war as she has alleged in her said declaration; for which aforesaid services this defendant claims a pension. up to the 18 th day of March 1833, the time of the discharge of her said late husband.
Anna her Sheffield marks
Taken, Subscribed and Sworn to in Open Court before the Court aforesaid this third day of March A D 1834
Witness Samuel Stanton Prob te Clerk

State of Rhode Island County of Washington ss. ss. of Charleston
On this third day of March 1831 personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of Probate, now sitting within the said town of Charleston Edward Willcox of said Charles- ton & in oath deposed & saith that he was acquainted with & was the neighbor of Stanton Sheffield late of said Charles- ton & that during his Sheffield deceased in said Charleston some time in the month of March 1833 at whose funeral this depo- nent was present. —
This deponent further says that Anna Sheffield now living in said Charleston is the widow of the said Stanton Sheffield.
Taken, Subscribed and in open Court and Edward Willcox Sworn to before the Court opened this third day of March A.D. 1834 Witness Samuel Stanton B. Clerk.

And the Court Certify that it appears to them that the said - Anna Sheffield whom the Court knows, is the Widow of the said Stanton Sheffield, and the Court also Certify that from their examination and knowledge of the said Anna Sheffield and Edward Wilson whose Depositions precede this Certificate that their Testimony contained in their said Depositions is entitled to credit.
I Samuel Stanton Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for this Town of Charlestown do hereby Certify that the contents of the fore pages next preceding this Certificate embrace the Depositions of the said Anna Sheffield and Edward Wilson, and the proceedings of said Court in taking the same.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this first day of April A D 1834.
Samuel Stanton C. Oth

5 I Simon Crandal Now residing in the Town of Goshen in the County of New London State of Connecticut aged 72 years old. I was that I was well acquainted with Stanton & Sheffield of Charleston in the County of Washington State of Rhode Island & State of South Carolina. I was Born and Bred up in said Charleston and near the Birth place and Residence of P. Stanton & Sheffield. I well knew her father Simon Sheffield served in the Revolutionary war against the British in Goshen the Shore, in the Narragansett Bay as a Volunteer with Sheffield living near the sea shore of said Narragansett. I have some of those Sheffield a number of times during said war in visiting Goshen which were driven on shore by the British. Simon Crandal Nov 30 18 18 Dec 18 18
Simon G. Crandall
General Stanley J. Pease

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations -
Washington ss: Superior Court Common Pleas
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County & State Aforesaid do hereby certify that Samuel Stanton Esq. whose signature in his own proper hand Witness in hand  produced was on the 21 st day of August 1833 and now is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Charlestown of Charlestown in said County duly commissioned and qualified and that Signature annexed to the preceding Certificate regarding Simon Brandall I believe to be the proper hand writing of the said Samuel Stanton
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Affixed the Seal of said Court This Third day of May 1834
SAM l HELME Clerk

Rejection
21479 INVALID!
File No. 21479
1871  1872  1873  1874  1875 1876  1877  1878  1879  1880
Act: 1871  1872  1873  1874  1875
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Payment to be made at Providence R. I. by the Pres t of the Trade Bank Agents for paying Pen- -sioners in the Agen- -cy of
Rhode Island
Recorded in the Pension office Book E. V. 2 page 130 by George Taylor Clerk,

War Department Revolutionary Claims
Mrs. Sheffield widow of Stanton Sheffield late a resident of Charlestown in the county of Washington and state of Rhode Island who died on the 18 th day of December 1833. is enti- tled to receive the amount of Pension due him from the 4 th of March 1831 to the day of his death to be paid by the agent at Providence Rhode Island according to the act of 7 th June 1832 at the rate of fifty dollars per annum
Given at the War Office of the United States this fourteenth day of May One thousand eight hun- dred and thirty four
Isaac P. Secretary of War
Examined and countersigned J. L. Edwards, Commr. of Pensions

27460

N. 9. Kingston, Sept. 30 th 1834
Sir,
Having learned from Anna Sheffield since she received her certificate that her late husband, Stanton Sheffield, deceased on the Eighteenth of March 1833 and not on the Eighteenth of Decr. 1833; and that there fore there is a mistake, either in making out the certificate, or in taking the testimony, as to the time of his decease: and in as much as I was concerned for Mrs. Sheffield in her original application & her certificate was forwarded to her through me, I deem it my duty to which she cheerfully assents, to cause the certificate to be returned to the Department (and herewith enclose the same accordingly) and to request of the Department in her behalf, that another certificate, in lieu of this, with the true date (March 18 th 1833) of her husband's decease, be forwarded to me from her. Very res- pectfully &c.
Wm. P. Ware
To J. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions