Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15957, for John Phillips, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Phillips, John
NUMBER
S. 15957
CONTENTS
carded

N o 18360 Vermont
John Phillips
Windham Co. in the State of Vermont as a Private in the company commanded by Captain Randall of the by _____ in the Mass. Troops for 6 months 24 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 22 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15. day of August 1833 and sent to J. Elliot New Fane Vt
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 45.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep. 1833 11.33
$56.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
k E Vol. 3 Page 83
2-22-67

No. 2619 John Phillips Vermont
Lisp. 11 Dec. '82
Obj. 11.12.
6 mo. 240 5
$22.66 J. Elliot
New Fane Marlboro
11
6
1147.

BRIEF in the case of John Phillips of Marlborough County of Windham in the State of Vermont (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Apl In 1777 2 21 Private Capt Randall   July 1778 63 " " Leonard   " 1 Substitute "   1779 1 "   4. 84  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Skirmishes at Butts & Snake Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Easton, Massachusetts.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary & Living  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
James Moring Examining Clerk.

John Phillips' Lease. L. Phillips' Affidavit.

Cayuga County ss
Enos Phillips of Seneca in said County deponeth and saith that in the time of the revolutionary war this deponent lived in the town of Easton Bristol County State of Massachusetts and that his Brother John Phillips volunteered and went and went in to army and before his time was out he was drafted for two months and stayed in the whole eleven weeks at that time and this went to Rhode Island the second time and stayed some weeks and then at another time to the college and stayed about one month more and then at one other time on the hill south of Providence one month more and that this deponent now resides in the town of Seneca County of Cayuga and State of New York as further saith not
Enos Phillips
Subscribed and sworn this 23 d day of Jan 1833 before Me John Root Justice of the peace
I certify that I well acquainted with Enos Phillips and his reputation for truth and veracity is good
John Root Justice of the peace
State of New York Cayuga County ss Clerk's office
I Michael Sellers Clerk of said County. Do certify that John Root Esq. before whom the above affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the twenty third day of January 1833, a Justice of the peace of said County: and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe the signature of John Root subscribed to said affidavit & also to the above certificate, to be genuine. Witness my hand & seal of office this 28 th day of January A.D 1833
M. S. Myers Clerk for J. H. Myers D y Clerk

No. 10. Windham Co. Vermont. John Phillips - Dec d for Pension
July 30. 1832.
No 2619
[Supplementary Declaration Within -]

Probate District of Marlborough - At the Probate Court, within and for said District, being a Court of Record, so declared by the Statutes of this State, and having a Seal and Register -
On this 30th day of July
A. D. 1832 - Personally appeared in open Court, - At New Haven
Present - The Hon. Marshall Miller Esquire, Judge of said Court - in said county,
Before the said Probate Court, within and for said District, - now sitting - John Phillips a resident of Marlborough in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, aged seventy one years, was 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 7, 1832 - That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated In April 1777 I was drafted to go to Rhode Island as a guard for three weeks - at Taunton on the march to the camp I received new orders from Capt. Randall that I was drafted for two months longer, and accordingly I did duty as a soldier for 2 months & 3 weeks near Rhode Island - In July 1778 I served nine weeks as a soldier on Rhode Island guarding cattle, &c. under Capt. Leonard - Also, in the same year I served one month as a substitute for Inos Phillips, on a hill near Providence, R.I. In the year 1779 I served one month more, a part of the time at the college at Providence and part of the time on board a guard ship to guard British prisoners - making seven months service in the whole - Was in a severe skirmish between Butts Hill and Quaker's Hill on Rhode Island - Saw Generals Sullivan and Hancock at Rhode Island - That he had no discharges in writing, and does not know of any person now alive who can testify to his services - John Phillips
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
To the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, he answers, upon his said oath, as follows:
 1. Was born in Boston, Bristol County, Mass. in the year 1761 -  2. Have a private record of my age in a Bible -  3. Lived in Boston, Mass. when I went into service. Removed to Vermont in 1793 and have ever since lived in Marlborough in Windham County -  4. Have stated above the names of the principal officers recollected - was drafted at first, and believed I was drafted every time, except the short term of service as a substitute -  5. Received no discharges in writing - Have stated the names of the principal officers above -  6. Received no discharges in writing -  7. Refered to Archelaus Dean of Marlborough and Samuel Rockwood of New Haven as witnesses under this interrogatory - John Phillips 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
We Archelaus Dean citizen residing in the town of Marlborough in said county and Samuel Rockwood of New Haven in said county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Phillips who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Rockwood Archelaus Dean
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate

 4. Have stated above the names of the principal officers recollected was drafted at first, and believe I was drafted every time, except the short term of service as a substitute -  5. Received no discharges in writing - Have stated the names of the principal officers above -  6. Received no discharges in writing -  7. Refered to Archelaus Dean of Marlborough and Samuel Rockwood of New France as witnesses under this interrogatory - John Phillips 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
We Archelaus Dean a citizen  citizen residing in the town of Marlborough in said county and Samuel Rockwood of New France in said county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Phillips who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Rockwood Archelaus Dean
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
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 Samuel Rockwood who has signed the preceding certificate, is a citizen resident in the said town of New France , and that Archelaus Dean who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Marlborough in said county, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I James Elliot , Register of the Probate Court, within and for the District of Marlborough aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Phillips for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this
30th
day of July
A D 1832.
James Elliot , Prob. Register.

I John Phillips within named testify and say that there is no clergyman within my knowledge who can testify to the reputation of my services as required by the War Department. John Phillips
State of Vermont. Windham ss. I sworn & subscribed before me this 16th day of February A.D. 1833.
James Elliot Justice of the Peace.
State of Vermont - Windham County Court Clerks Office, New Haven, February 16. A.D. 1833. I certify that James Elliot is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and that the above is his signature. Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court.
James Elliot, Clerk.
I Mansfield Bruce of Wilmington in the County of Windham & State of Vermont testify and say that I have been personally acquainted with John Phillips of Marlboro - the within Applicant for Pension about thirty years - and concur in the testimony of Archibald Dean & Samuel Rockwood Witnesses attached to this Voluntary Mansfield Bruce
New Haven May the 13th 1833
State of Vermont (Windham County) Personally appeared Rev. Mansfield Bruce made oath the above Deposition by him subscribed contains the truth
I certify that the above named Mansfield Bruce is a respectable Clergyman of this County. Before me Nathan Houghton Justice of the Peace.

I
1595 4
INVALID.
File No. 15957
John Phillips His Rev Wrs
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 226
[Arrangement of 1870.]

From the vague terms in the declaration of John Philips, as well as his witnesses, it is very doubtful whether his service comes within the act. He must state the officers of the Companies & Regiments in which he served, and give a detail of the facts of his service. His papers are again returned.
The papers of Sylvanus

must fail. The papers are placed on file.
The paper endorsed "heirs of Isaac Martin" is herewith returned. It is difficult to conjecture its object. If it is proposed to establish a claim to a pension, a declaration must be made according to the regulations, stating the facts upon which the claim rests, and proving them by the best

The Additional declaration of John Phillips, an Applicant for a Pension under the act of June 7. 1832.
That I marched from home, on the 22 nd day of April Domini 1777, for the camps with 13 others, and was ordered to continue in camp 3 weeks - and on the first day of our march we stopped at Fauntler, and a man came after us with orders from Capt. Randall (who was captain of the company to which I belonged when at home) that I and 3 others were drafted to continue two months longer, than the first campaign, and on the second day at evening we arrived at Land-Lord Strangers, on the East side of Rhode Island and we were ordered to wait for further orders, and on the next day, myself and the other 13 that came with me from Easton, were ordered to march back 2 or 3 miles where there was a number of large boats drawn out of the water, and our duty for said 3 weeks was to guard said boats, and I knew no captain that I was under for said 3 weeks except the captain of the boat-guard, his name was Robert Drake - and the other officer under him, Elijah Pratt, and after the expiration of the first campaign myself, and the other three that came with me from Easton were ordered to cross the river in boats that separated the Island from the continent, and we were carried to a place called Gardeners neck or point, a place where there was sheep and cattle, and we with ten others others were ordered to guard that point which lay right against the south end of Rhode Island where it was expected the enemy would come for fresh supplies and they did come, one night while I was on guard, but were driven back and got nothing, and we continued on said point I well remember till after the 14 th of July - I saw no officer the whole two months, which time I continued there except the officers of the guard whose name was John Cudworth and when our time was out we went home, the whole time of the campaigns above stated eleven weeks and a few days over - One thing I had forgotten to state when on the East side of the Island - There was a regiment of soldiers stationed on the East side of the Island and I think but one, which were all scattered along on the shore, and one day they fled off in the colonies name I think was Hattaway, and the Majors name was Dursy, I remember their names in consequence of a sham fight these two men commanded the two parties

The next year 78 I was a gain call d out to the state of Rhode- Island, and staid there some time, and the troops began to come in and a considerable part of the company from Easton come to the Island and after 3 weeks being on Swanton side or there abouts we marched down to the river, and at the North east corner of Rhode Island we were soon landed — we went a board the boats at a place called Howland's ferry and landed safely on the Island (this I should think was in the fore part of August) and we marched up to Butts-Hill, which place the Enemy had very recently left — my captains name was Ichabod Leonard, Lt. also Seth Pratt, as to the field officers I can only say, that in the time of the action Colonel Lane had headed the regiment, he was a man that had but one Eye and he was wounded in the left arm by a musket ball, after being there 2 or 3 days I was taken sick with the dysentery I under went every thing but death I got better soon, a bout the time I was taken sick, the troops moved from Butts hill down to the south end of the Island near New Port and when I got better, I was put onto the cattle guard, and continued there until the day the troops retreated back to Butts-hill, and the cattle were removed, and then I went in search of my former company and found them, not more than 2 hours before we were call on to go out and drive the enemy  them back who then were fast approach- and the company moved on but was not in the fore front of the battle, but it was so forward that there was 13 of our company wounded and one by the name of Haskins was shot dead on the spot where he was, by a musket ball that passed through his head — When the french ships moved from their station on the west side of Rhode Island I stood and looked on, there was eight large ships sailed one after the other, and as soon as they came a gainst the british fort at New- port there was as continual a rumbling as ever I heard with cannon but to cut the details short a bout the 1 st of September we came off of the Island at the same place where we went on, and the Soldiers were generally disbanded (if I mistake not) but I with some others were ordered a board some boats and we sailed a cross a bay called mount hope bay and landed at the foot of mount hope, went up and viewed the patter of Philip the indian Kings. A major Mitchell commanded this party, And then we moved on to Providence, and staid there a few days, did not much duty, but were ordered to Pawtucket a number of miles to the south west of Providence and continued their doing duty as a guard at a village, until our times were out which makes 9 week at least, and some times think I have not put the time high enough, but it amounts as high or higher than I have put it

I John Phillips do hereby certify that in the year of our Lord 1779 I went to the state of Rhode Island under Lt. Jonathan Pratt, I cannot state whether it was in the month of June or not, but I think it was but to be positive I cannot, and we went to Providence, and I was stationed in the College one month, about seven or eight soldiers I should think occupied a small room in the College and I do not remember of any more soldiers being stationed in the college only what was in that small room the company were scattered about at several places, my duty was to be on guard guarding the general's door, and there was a number of cannon a little south southwest from the college which wanted guarding, and I well recollect that Lt. Pratt came to me after I had been there a bout half the time or 2 weeks and I should take a furlough for 4 Days, one day to go home another to return in, and to stay at home 2 days, for he wanted his horse rode down to him, which I under took and did according to his request, this Lt. Pratt was a Neighbour of mine when at home, had he not been of my acquaintance, I do not think I should have remembered his name, I being so often shifted from one place to another amongst strangers, there was no chance for recollecting the names of officers as there would have been had I have been stationed six months months at a place, and I continued there at least one month, or 4 weeks which was always called a month among the soldiers, as it related to their pay, and when a soldier had gotten his pay for a month's service in camp, I should think it would not pay for 4 meals of victuals. the money had so depreciated it was but of little value, I returned home from the camp I should think about the middle of July.
The particular dates, I cannot make, but according to the best of my recollection in the month of August 1779, there was a call from government for soldiers, and my Brother Enos, (who was according to the family record 4 years 5 months and a few days younger than myself) wanted to go into the army, the campaign I think was 6 weeks, he marched off off and went to Providence, state of R.I. and in a few days he returned home being very sick of the camp and I went as a substitute for him and continued in camp until the time was out, which was at least 1 month, and my impressions are that I stayed 5 weeks, but certainly 1 month, I was stationed south or southwest from Providence town and while I was there I saw James Heart hanged as a spy who

who came from the Enemy who were on R.I. with a great sum of counterfeit money I saw him walk after the cart that carried his coffin to the gallows, and he was as smart a looking man as I ever saw walk on the earth — my duty in this campaign, was in guarding British prisoners who were on board a guardship which lay down the river below Providence town, the British capt name was James Kidd who commanded (as we were informed) a British vessel the prisoners were 14 in number, and they were guarded by 24 men I went on to that guard every other day while I stayed there. the capt's name of the company to which I belonged was Ichobad Leonard a man that I was under when on R.I. The Lieu. name was Nehemiah Randall a man of my former acquaintance; I stay the time out which was at the lowest estimation one month, as to the Field officers, if any there was I do not recollect of ever learning their names
John Phillips
I sworn and subscribed this 6th day of June A.D. 1833. Before me, James Elliot Justice of the Peace Windham County, Vermont.
John Phillips. Subp 4. Declaration.
State of Vermont. Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Haven June 6. A.D. 1833.
I certify that Nahum Houghton and James Elliot are Justices of the Peace for the county of Windham aforesaid, and that the above and annexed, respectively, are their signatures. Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court.
James Elliot Clerk.

I Oliver Phillips of New Fane in the County of Windham and State of Vermont being of lawfull age do testify and say, that I have been acquainted with John Phillips when he lived in Easton in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts but now lives in Marlboro in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, that in the time of the revolutionary war I was knowing to his (the said John Phillips) being absent from home and it was said that he was in the army and I have no reason to doubt his serving in the revolutionary war according to his statement and further saith not
New Fane July 30 th 1832
Oliver Phillips
State of Vermont Windham County ss New Fane July 30-1832 Personally appeared Oliver Phillips above named and made oath that the above statement by him subscribed contains the truth —
Before me Marshall Miller Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont. Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, July 30. A. D. 1832.
I certify, that Marshall Miller Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above is his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County Court on the day and year above written.
James Elliot, Clerk.

John Phillips Esq. O. Phillips - Affiant
State of Vermont Windham County ss. } Newfane Dec. 22 - 1832 I hereby certify that the within named Oliver Phillips who subscribed and made oath to the within affidavit before me, is a credible witness Marshall Miller Justice of the peace
State of Vermont - Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, December 22. A.D. 1832. I certify that Marshall Miller Es- quire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above is his sig- nature. - In testimony whereof, I have here- unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on the day and year above written -
James Elliot, Clerk.