Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21933, for John Randall, Rhode Island

SERVICE
R. I.
Randall, John
NUMBER
S. 21933
CONTENTS

27. 1. 66 Rhode Island John Randall
at the Pension in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Austin of the Brigade commanded by Genl. Spencer in the R.I. Island for 4 mos 16 days Private of Infantry 13 ,, Light Horseman
Enscribed on the Roll of R.I. Island the rate of 68 Dollars 10 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Feb 1834 and sent Hon. D. S. Brace House of Rep's
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1832 $170.40 Semi-ant. allowance ending 14 Mar 34 - 34.08 $204.48
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Book
Vol. 2
Page
Clerk,
127
Subst. to Dept. Randall order to pay - Sept 15 1837.

John Randall
29.4.69
Private 4 mos & 6 days Private corps of corps of Light Horse - 13 mos
Alm'd
13.33 63 14.00 50.00 4.14 $68.11 1/2 136.30 24.08 $228.49
Mon. D. J. ... House of Reps

United States of America Rhode Island district
County of Providence
on this 28 th day of October AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court being a Special District Court of the United States within said District now in session John Randall resident in North Providence in said District & County aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. Vis - said John declares that he entered the War of the Revolution & served as herein stated. In answer to the Seven Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he answers & says - to 1 st He was born in said North Providence June 23 rd AD 1758 -
2 d His birth is recorded in a family Bible, do you know that it is recorded any where else. 3 d He lived in said North Providence when he was first called into service, and always re- sided in said town since said War, & he now resides there - 4 th He was first called on alarm soon after the battle of Lexington -

5 th He served under General Spencer General Sullivan, General Cornell, Colonels, Jencks, Atwell and Manton - Captains. John Angell & Thomas Olney.
6. He never received any written discharge -
7. Know David Benedict. David Hawkins are his neighbors & can testify in his behalf
And this applicant further says that soon after the battle of Lexington, on the general alarm, belonging at that time to a chartered company of minute men he was called out to march to Providence with said company under the command of Capt John Angell. That they forthwith march to Providence & there received cartridges & were immediately ordered to march to Pawtucket. They did so & there waited further orders & soon received orders to return He served as a private on this alarm. 6 days -
And this applicant further says that in November following the British having several ships of War cruising in Narragansett Bay landed some troops on Prudence Island & burnt the houses when said company, which by its rules and regulations was always to be in readiness, was again called upon to march down the Bay to defend the inhabitants against the depredations of the enemy - They immediately marched to Providence there received cartridges

and marched to Warwick Neck a post on the western shore of Narragansett Bay - Here said Company were stationed through the winter before they were disbanded. This applicant avers that he served four months as a private in said Company at said Station to wit from said November 1775 to March 1776. And this applicant further saith that soon after this service about May 1776 he joined a Company of Light Horse called the "Captain General's Cavalry" as a private, which had been raised in the neighbor- ing towns & which was then under the command of Col Daniel Manton - This Corps had been placed under the particular orders of Major General Spencer and was to perform all the duties assigned to it and being the only Corps of Light Horse in this part of the State, its duties were arduous & constant. He continued a private in this Company until after Sullivan's Expedition in August 1778. two years & some months when he took a dismission At this distant period of time it would be equally as difficult to say when he was not on duty as to say when he was - He avers that he was on duty in actual service one half of the time while he belonged to this Corps - in guarding the shores of said Bay & watching the movements of the enemy who then

were in possession of the Island of Rhode Island & continually making inroads into the country to depredat on the inhabitants - This applicant says that between May 1776 & December of that year, he served three months at least as private in said loops - and between Jany 1777 & December of that year not less than six months, and between Jany 1778 & September four months at least And this applicant further says that in the month of March 1780. he served as a private in Capt Varnas blues company & Col Jones Regiment - This applicant says he served seventeen months & six days in the War of the Revolution in manner above stated for which he claims a pension - He has no documentary evidence of his services, but to prove them in part he produces the testimony of the Rev David Benedict David Harding
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 any State
John Brant
Oct 28 1833 sworn to in Open Court witness B Laurell clk

We David Benedict of the Town of North Providence & David Hawkins of said North Providence hereby certify and say that we are well acquainted with John Randall who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 75 years of age that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a son of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion.
David Benedict David Hawkins
Oct 28 th 1833
Sworn to in open Court by the said David Benedict & David Hawkins
witnes
B Laurell Clerk

I Jeremiah Manton of Johnston in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island being now in the 71 year of age on oath do testify and say that I formerly belonged to a Corps of Light Horse called the "Captain General's Carabines" that I belonged to it during the War of the Revolution and for my services have received a Certificate for a pension - and I further testify that I well remember John Randall who has subscribed hereto. The annexed declaration - he was a private in said Corps also - I do not remember precisely the time said John joined it but think it was in the Spring of 1776 as he has stated nor do I precisely, the time when he left it, but suppose it was after Sullivan's expedition in the fall of 1778 and I further testify that during the time the British were in possession of Rhode Island. said Corps was put under the order of the American Commander and was

in most constant service. It was the only Company of Light Horse in this part of the State and on all occasions General Spencer and often him General Sullivan used to call upon us to perform various duties in guarding the shores & watching the movements of the enemy  the enemy and I further testify that said John must have served as much as thirteen months in actual service during the year 1776 1777 & 1778. as he has stated I never knew John  John to be missing or absent during the time he belonged to it, when said Corps was on duty
Jeremiah Manton
Oct 29, 1833
I worn to before me and I further certify that said Defendant is personally well known to me and he is a credible & disinterested witness in the premises —
Benja Lawrence Commissioner of Dist Court for R.I. Dist

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolu- tionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that David Benedict who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in North Providence and that David Hawkins who also signed the same is a credible witness, & that their statement is entitled to full credit.
I Benjamin Lawrence Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Randall for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty seventh day of Jany A.D. 1834
Benja Lawrence Clk.

Penitentiary
21933 INVALID.
File No. 21,933
John Randall Re New Year
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 232
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Providence Sept 10 th 1837
Sir
By the enclosed you will perceive that the pension of my Father is unpaid, & that I am duly authorized to receive it Will you please give the requisite orders for its payment & oblige yours
Dearest Friend
J. L. Edwards

Aug 14 N.Y.
Recd. due
L. Edwards, Esq. Pension Office Washington City.