Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13812, for Jeremiah Phillips, Rhode Island

SERVICE
R.I.
NUMBER
Phillips, Jeremiah No. 13812. Phebe
CONTENTS

Island - 2582
Phoebe Phillips
widow of Jeremiah Phillips
who died on the 24 th Dec r 1820 of Kent - in the State of R. Island who was a Pen. in the County commanded by Captain Holman of the Reg t commanded by Barron in the R. I. time for 10 months 11 days
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 34 Dollars 53 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of April 27, and signed S. A. Brayton, Warrant R. I.
  Arrears to the 14th of Mar.  $27 6 24    Semi-annual allowance ending  17 26         $293 50  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act July 4, 1836, } { Section the }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk
Book A Vol. 2 - Page 96

I hereby certify that Jeremiah Philips, of Cranston and Phebe Scranton of Warwick, were lawfully joined together in marriage in Cranston aforesaid, on the 14 th day of March A.D. 1879 - By me Nehemiah Knight Just of Peace Recorded March 12 th 1879. By N. Knight Jr. Clerk.
Town Clerk's Office Cranston September 3 rd A.D. 1836
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy from the records of said town of Cranston, for recording marriages -
Isaac Howard T. Clerk
The State of Rhode Island &c Providence ss. In Cranston September 3 rd A.D. 1836 Personally appeared Isaac Howard and having subscribed the above Certificate in my presence made oath to the truth of the same before me. - And I further certify that the said Isaac Howard, was on the first Monday in June last, appointed Town Clerk of said town of Cranston, for the year then ensuing and is now duly authorized to act in that capacity, and that he is a credible witness. -
Sheldon Knight Just of the Peace

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Providence. I Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Providence, being a Court of Record, do hereby Certify That Sheldon Knight Esq d before whom the within instrument was sworn, is a Justice of the Peace within & for the Town of Cranston in said County; That, by Law, he is duly authorized and qualified to administer oaths and take depositions and that the signature of his within written is Genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Providence this Tenth day of Septem- ber A d 1836
Dexter Randall Clerk

for Mrs. Philip Phillips
[Faint, mirrored cursive handwriting, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

I Susannah Arnold of Warwick in the County of Kent being now 90 years of age, on Oath do testify & say, that, during the Revolutionary War, Jeremiah Phillips the husband of Phebe Phillips (now his Widow) Her, His Wife & Child lived in my Family two years - and I well remember that during that time he the said Jeremiah was once drafted as a soldier to serve on Rhode Island - he did go, serve and returned. I cannot remember the particular year, but it was about the time of the Battle on Rhode Island - I am the Widow of Oliver Arnold & it was after my husband's Death that Mr Phillips came to live in my house & work for me
Attest John Brown
Susannah X Arnold Mark
Went Jo. I sworn to & subscribed before me at Warwick this Fifteenth day of August A 1838 & I certify that Mrs Susannah Arnold is a credible witness & her Statements entitled to full credit
John Brown Jus. b6 pleas

V 2027
Hebe Philips widow of Jeremiah.
Married 11 March '79.
R. Island.
act 4 July '36.
admd 10mo. 1104 p.m.
4.53/100
no deduction
G. A. Brayton Warwick R. I. a
I have Jeremiah's salary from our local office the amount paid February 2.88 Geo. A. Brayton White Blk.

State of Rhode Island County of Kent } 117
On the Twelfth  Thirteenth day of February A.D. 1837 personally appeared before the Court of Probate of the Town of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 1836 That she is the widow of Jeremiah Phillips late of said Warwick deceased who was a private in the army of the United States and in the militia of the State of Rhode Island in the War of the revolution that the said Jeremiah entered the service of the United States on or before the fifteenth day of May A.D. 1775 and enlisted in a company commenced by Thomas Holden in James McVamens regiment on or before said 15 th day of May and served in said company from Fort Mavens in said Warwick and at and near Boston until the first day of January 1776 when he was discharged that the said Jeremiah at the time of entering the service of the United States made at his home in Cranston a said State of Rhode Island as she believes that he worked out by the month in said Warwick and that she said Jeremiah as she believes always made at his home in said Cranston until the time of their marriage as hereafter noticed that he lived in Cranston after their marriage until April 1779 when they removed to the town of Scituate and remained there one year when they removed to said Warwick and that they lived in said Warwick ever after until the death of the said Jeremiah that the said Jeremiah served in the militia of said State at many different times being drafted and served both

believes at different times in our militia in the year 1777 and less than four months in the whole in the year 1778 not less than four months in the whole in the year 1779 not less than four months in the whole in the year 1780 not less than two months in the whole and in the year 1781 not less than two months in the whole That of these services she cannot state the particular periods other than the following viz that she served one month in Sullivan's Expedition in August 1778 in Rhode Island one month at Newport in the year 1780 in the fall of the year she cannot state in what month but before November and she thinks in the month of September they then lived in the house of Oliver Arnold That she served one period of one month guarding the shores near Warwick and one other period of fifteen days guarding said shore
She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel on Eleventh day of March in the year Seventeen hundred

and seventy nine that her husband the aforesaid Jeremiah died at said Warwick on the 24 th day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and Twenty and that she has remained a widow ever since the that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs hereto annexed that she has in documentary evidence a copy of her claim
her Phoebe X Phillips Mark witness Edmund Burke
sworn, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the said Jeremiah Phillips was a soldier of the revolution and served as above stated that he died at Warwick on the 24 th day of Decem- ber A 1820 and that the said Phoebe Phillips the applicant was married to the said Jeremiah on the 11 th day of March 1817/18 and that she ever since the death of the said Jeremiah she has continued to be and still is his widow and the Court find the certificate that William Harrison who has signed the preceding certificate as a justice of the peace is a justice of the peace within and for said town of Warwick and is by them duly authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and that the signa- ture purporting to be his is genuine
I George A Brayton Clerk of the Court of Probate of said town of Warwick do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phoebe Phillips for a pension
In Testimony Whereof

V 2027
Phoebe Philips widow of Jeremiah.
Married 11 March '79.
R. Island.
act 4 July '36.
admd 10mo. 1104 per
453/100
no deduction
G. A. Brayton Warwick R. I. W.
I have been to see my friend and sent off letter to Mr. Smith say Mary's story Geo. A. Brayton White Hill

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Jeremiah Phillips 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ May 1775 Sept 1776 Pvt. Thomas Holden James H. Varnum R.I.   ✓ Aug 1777 55 days Sylvius Miller Waterman   ✓ Aug 1780 1 mo. Randall John Waterman   ✓ Oct 1781 31 days Hopkins Olney  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Granston R.I.
Date of application for pension, July 13 1897  Her ch. was allowed
Residence at date of application, Warwick, Newlea R.I.
Age at date of application, He was 79 yrs.
Remarks: He married Feb. 11 1779 Phoebe Desanton of Warwick R.I. and died Dec. 24 1860 at said Warwick. There is no other data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1904 - To Hon. Secy. Interior through Com. Wash (Copy) J.V.S.
1921 Dec. 18. Hist. to Mrs. H. D. Morrison Letter in L.F. 41.887
Mar. 25,
Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 13812
Phoebe Phillips Wid. of Jeremiah Phillips Rev Rev. War
Act: July 4 th
Index: - Vol. M , Page 28
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Let. to B. A. Branton 8 July '37 Let. to Ben Grady Sept. 22, 1938 do. Mr. J. K. Tullough July 27 '39 -

75. Holden Varnum Millard - Town clerk -
7:55 mo 1.25 1.1
 No 10 11 dy
No other services duly specified or proved
Esau Rhodes - no term duly stated by him
Letter of Edwin R. Knight Jr. S. B. Champlin Co. 116 Chestnut St., Providence, R. I. dated Mch 19 04 returned to Hon. Secy. of Interior with reply through Com. Deck. 3-25-04 L.V.S.
The Holdene Co. R.I. Mil. May 95 - Jan 96
Capt. Hopkins Co., Col. Olney Reg. Oct. 1781
Capt. Millerdi Co., Mil. of town of Warwick
Col. Waterman Reg { Jan. 9 - Feb. 8, 1777 { Apr. 6 - 20, 1777 { July 11 - 27, 1777

State of Rhode Island H.
Secretary's Office Aug. 27. 1838
I certify, that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the third Monday of June last, John Brown was elected Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within the County of Kent, for and until the first Wednesday in May next, and commissioned accordingly: as appears of record in this office.
Witness, Henry Bowen Secy.

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
William Sprague
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode- Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, That the name, " HENRY BOWEN, " to the aforewritten attestation subscribed, is in the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire , who at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid , duly elected and qualified according to law : Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed, at Provi- dence , this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- eight and of Independence the sixty- third
Wm Sprague
By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secy

Hon ble J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions

Nauvoo May 27 1837
I herewith enclose the application of Chloë Phillips for a pension. An early examination and decision in the the merits will oblige
Yours truly & servt.
Geo A. Pray

Providence Aug 27 1838
Sir
I have been requested to write you respecting the claim of Mrs. Phoebe Phillips (widow of Jeremiah Phillips) whose claim for a pension was transmitted some time ago by Geo A Brayton Esq. The objection to the claim I understand from Mr. Brayton is, that no satisfactory evidence has been produced of the services after the marriage. It is believed the endorsed affidavit of Mrs. Susannah Arnold will satisfy you upon that point. I was present when Judge Brown took the endorsed affidavit & she mentioned several other things which took place at the time, but which were not put

into her affidavit. She said when Jeremiah Philips his wife & child, lived in her family. The recruiting officers used to come to enlist him, & he would be enlist. but she told him if he did enlist he must get some other house for his wife & child. This prevented him. - but when he was drafted he was obliged by law to go & serve his town. & this she did not, & could not prevent. - The fact, that he had a wife & child when this service was performed must I think be conclusive that this service was after the marriage - Mrs Aruda is a very respectable old Lady as much so as any other in Wor- -wick & full faith is due to her statements

If this affidavit is satisfactory, and I hope it will be, may I request that a certificate may be granted -
I am respectfully yours Benjamin Cowell
J. L. Edwards Esq

30. 333 11
26.66-12 30
60  11
33.33 1.20
34.53

Providence Oct 8 1838.
In Agrees of the 22 title respecting the claim of Mrs Phoebe Philips widow of Jeremiah was duly received you observe the deposition of Mrs Susannah Arnold was received but the objection is "that no term of service which ended subsequently to the marriage has been set forth as required" see the object of taking Mrs Arnold's affidavit was not so much to prove a particular term of service after the marriage as it was to shew & prove that there was some service after it. Mrs Arnold testified that Jeremiah Philips his "wife & child" lived in her family & while they lived there he was drafted & he went & did duty & returned now here is some service proved after the marriage & if there was but one such

or even one day the case comes within the provisions of the act of July 4, 1836 It certainly proves some service after the marriage, for when he did it, he had a "wife & child"; Since Mrs. Arnold gave her affidavit she has departed this life & can give no further affidavit or testimony in the case, but Mr. Egan Rhodes has given a further deposition herewith endorsed which clearly & distinctly proves a marriage service in August 1780, Mr. Rhodes had every opportunity of knowing for he lived in the family of Mrs. Arnold's father in law, at the time & a near neighbor; For several years before & after the marriage, Mr. Phillips lived in Warwick as I understand, & his marriage record he found on the old Rolls of Squire Millers library now in the Pension Office I sent these Rolls in the case of Maria Gortons, widow (Mary) & you took copies & returned them I have to request that whatever service is found

by those Rolls may be added to "services already paid. The affidavit of the Grand son of Simon Millard is here with enclosed May I now request that a business enfor- cements may be sent. - I do think he came dearly paid. - I am respectfully
Yours at all
Benjamin Laurence
with
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]
J. L. Edwards Esq

Providence March 19 1839
Sir
In answer to your letter of 2) little to the Hon J L Tillinghast respecting the claim of Mrs Phoebe Philips widow of Jeremiah in which you observe "Unless a term of service subsequent to the marriage be established agreeably to the Rules so as to be taken into the computation of the stipend it cannot with propriety be maintained that service after the marriage has been procured" - I thought the deposition of Mrs Arnold did prove a distinct term so also did the affidavit of Esau Rhodes This affidavit shows a service in 1780 - But whether these affidavits were satisfactory or not - the certificate of the Town Treasury of Warwick must be entirely so as no allusion was made to their contents

in your letter I presume it was not of service. This certificate which was then submitted by George A. Brayton Esq but a short time since. shows a service in 1781. - If this document has not been filed with the other papers, I pray it may and a certificate be granted.
I am respectfully your obed servt Benja Lowell
J L Edwards Esq

I Esau Rhodes of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island aged eighty five years on oath do testify and say that I was acquainted with Jeremiah Philips during the Revolutionary war. I was first acquainted with him at the time he enlisted to go to Boston in the year 1775 and was acquainted with him from that time until his decease which was about fifteen or sixteen years ago, that he served in Sullivan's Expedition on Rhode Island and was absent in said service one month at least that when he lived in Oliver Arnold's house in Warwick he was drafted to go to Rhode Island and served not less than one month I recollect the said Philips moving with his family to the house of Oliver Arnold but cannot state the precise time said Philips was then married and had one child, that it was soon after this that said Philips was drafted I recollect this more particularly because Oliver Arnold was then absent in service and his wife was both that the said Philips should go I recollect he the said Philips was drafted twice afterwards to guard the shores of Warwick one of which times he served one month and the other time I think was fifteen days I know the said Philips was drafted a great many times other than those mentioned during the war of the Revolution but cannot state the particular periods or the dates I also recollect that the said Philips was frequently called out upon alarm was when not drafted and would be absent sometimes three or four days and sometimes a week at a time, the said Philips always served when drafted or when called on, upon an alarm from the best of my knowledge and belief the said Philips served as much as four months in each year during the time the British were in Newport and that he served as much as two months in a year for one or two years afterwards.
Witnesses J. D. Blayton
Esau his Rhodes mark

State of Rhode Island Kent County
Se In Warwick this tenth day of November A.D. 1836
Personally appeared Sam Rhodes and subscribed the within deposition in my presence and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me I further certify that he is a credible witness Wm Garrison Justice of the Peace

The deposition of Joseph Arnold (se) of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island aged eighty one years having been first sworn and cautioned to testify and say that in the year A 1775 he was Ensign in a Company Commanded by Thomas Holden in James M. Varnum's Regiment a Regiment raised by the state of Rhode Island for the service of the United States that the said Company marched from the Town of Warwick about the first of June of that year for Boston and served at Someco Plains, Prospect Hill, and Winter Hill, in the vicinity of Boston untill the first of January 1776. that he enlisted said Company and among others enlisted Jeremiah Philips who then resided in Warwick aforesaid that said Philips was enlisted in the month of May 1775 and as early as the fifteenth day of said month and served in said Company at said Warwick and the places before mentioned until their discharge on the said first day of January 1776, that he the said deponent Commanded said Company for about two months previous to their discharge having been promoted to the office of lieutenant, and The Captain having resigned, the Command devolved upon the deponent that he was always acquainted with the said Philips from his boyhood until his death, that I am acquainted with Phoebe Philips the widow of the said Jeremiah Philips that she is now the widow of the said Jeremiah
State of Rhode Island } Kent County } se
Warwick 13 February 1837
Personally came Joseph Arnold (se) and made oath to the truth of the above deposition before me and I further Certify that he is a credible person
Wm Garrison Justice of the Peace
Joseph Arnold (se)

I Augustus G. Millerd of Warwick in the County of Kent State of Rhode Island &c. being forty four years of age, on Oath do testify and state that I am in possession of the Military and other papers, belonging to my Grandfather the late Capt. Squire Millerd of Warwick in the County and State aforesaid who commanded a Company of Militia of the Town of Warwick in the Revolutionary war, and it appears by said papers that Jeremiah Phillips of Warwick belonged to said Company and did duty as a private in said Company in Col. Waterman's Regiment, in the time between April the 6 th and April the 20 th 1777 - 12 days — also from July the 11 th to July the 27 th 1777 within the aforesaid time 12 days — and from Jan y the 9 th to Feb y the 8 th 1777 both days included 31 days, as appears by the pay abstracts and other papers of said Company Warwick Oct r 2 nd 1838
Augustus G. Millerd
State of Rhode Island
Kent County } Be
In Warwick the second day of October A.D. 1838 Personally appeared Augustus G. Millerd and Made Oath that the above Statement by him signed is true and I further certify that the said Augustus G. Millerd is a credible person
Before me W m Harrison Justice of the Peace

I Esau Rhodes of Warwick in the County of Kent being now in the 90 th year of my age, do further testify, & say in reference to the services of Jeremiah Philips husband of Phebe Philips, After the said Jeremiah married his wife they lived in the family of Oliver Arnold, whose widow, Susannah Arnold was a neighbour of mine, until her death, which they lived in that family, I remember well. said Jeremiah was drafted to do tours of duty, once or twice at least after their marriage, I have a distinct recollection of this fact, for I myself then lived in the family of James Arnold the father of said Oliver a near neighbour to said Oliver, I often saw Jeremiah Philips & his wife who is now his widow, in that family they worked for the family, the drafts were a month each and I think said Jeremiah served them in Capt. Rendolls Company, one of the drafts was in August 1780 when said Jeremiah was drafted & served a month in said company on Rhode Island this fact I well remember, & John Waterman was the Colonel Charles A. Fiske Esau X Rhodes Witness his
Kenilworth Warwick this 28 th Day of September A 1838
I worn and Subscribed on the Day and year above written before me _____
And I further Certify that the said Esau Phelps is a credible Witness in the premises
Thomas To Green Justice of the Peace

Kent ss. The State of Rhode Island &c Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas I certify that Thomas R. Greene Esqr is a Justice of the peace in & for the town of Warwick in said County of Kent, that the foregoing is his proper signa- ture in his own hand writing - and that full faith & credence is & ought to be given to all his official acts -
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at East Greenwich, this third day of October in the year D 1836 -
Thos. A. Hoarum Cth
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

West Greenwich March 21 st 1782
These may Certify that Jeremiah Phelps of Warwick Did a Tour of Duty at Newport of 31 Days under Capt Hopkins in Col. Diney Regiment in October Last
N o 184
Joseph Hopkins Capt
Received the within Contents
Jeremiah Phelps
Jeremiah Phelps
21. 11.
I Josiah Westcott of Warwick in the County of Kent & State of Rhode Island do hereby say that I hold the Office of Town Treasurer of the said Town of Warwick - that I have in my Office numerous Certificates of Officers of the Revolutionary service of soldiers in the war of the Revolution - That I have among others a Certificate of the service of Jeremiah Phelps of Warwick of which the annexed is a true copy duly computed by me -
Josiah Westcott T. Treasurer
State of Rhode Island
(Kent County)
Se In Warwick the 8 th Day of February 1839.
Subscribed and sworn to before me and I further certify that the Rev. Josiah Westcott is a credible witness -
Henry Harrison Justice of the Peace

Kent Sc. The State of Rhode Island &c Clerks office Court of Common Pleas I certify that William Harrison Esqr. is a Justice of the peace for the town of Warwick in said County of Kent, that the foregoing is his proper Signature in his own hand writing & that full faith & credence is and ought to be given to all his official acts.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said court at East Greenwich this ninth day of Feb- ruary in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
Jer. S. Slocum Clerk

Warwick R Island Feb'y 11 1839
Sir
Some two years or more since I transmitted to the department the application of Phebe Phillips widow of Jeremiah Phillips for a pension under the act of July 4 1836. The objections made to granting a pension were that there was no proof of service after the marriage for any definite period. Though there were many persons who saw him in service and had no doubt in their own mind that he served after the year 1779. Yet I found no one who could state the precise time of that service or the duration of the service. We might produce abundant traditional evidence that Jeremiah Phillips was a good soldier and served during the whole war of the revolution wherever brought and sometimes as a substitute evidence not sufficiently definite to be within the rules of the department. I have however within a few days discovered a certificate from his capt of his service in 1781 a copy whereof is here with transmitted. Of its evidence I was not before aware. In examining the records of the town of Warwick for an other purpose I found a vote of the town allowing the sum of one shilling per day to such soldiers belonging to the town as should serve in the months of October and November 1781. to be paid out of the town treasury on producing a certificate from their commanding officers of the number of days they had served. On examining the vouchers in the town treasurer's office I found a great number of certificates of officers stating the services of the soldiers

under their command on all these certificates, payments have been made to the soldiers out of the treasury of the town
I trust that the department will be satisfied with the proof now forwarded that Greenick Phillips did serve after his marriage to the applicant and that the pension will be granted without hesitation. I believe the applicant entitled to a full pension and that her husband's actual service not less than two years tho' it is impossible at this late day to find witnesses who can state each term of service definitely as to time and duration. Phillips was forty years old when he married. All those of his own age are long since past from the stage of existence and consequently those who would be most likely to recollect him and the particulars of his service. The deposition therefore of Evan Rhules ought in my opinion to be received as evidence of as much service as is stated in it though generally, when once it is conclusively proved that services were rendered after the marriage and the applicant entitled at all. But it is hardly possible that any man in Phillips circumstances poor and liable to be drafted all to serve and disposed to do so should have gone through the days of the revolution with less than two years service and living as he did near the shores of Narragansett Bay which from the commencement of the war to the close of 1779 were constantly harassed by the enemy. I trust that the department will permit these considerations to have their proper weight in applying the evidence and that an early decision will be made upon the application.
I have the honor to be your
ob't Serv't
Geo A. Preyler
Rev. J. S. Edwards