Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,186, for Peter Potter, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R I
Potter, Peter
S 14,186
Carded
CONTENTS

31.000 A meeticut
Peter Potter 31360
of Middletown in the State of Ct who was a Private in the Company comman- by Captain Sheldon of the P.S.C. command by _____ in the R.I.A. line for 11 months 20 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Cont. at the rate of 37 Dollars 77 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th March 1838 and 2nd Hon. C. Walt No. of Recds.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $264.39 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 18.88
$283.27
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H.H. Addison Clerk, Book C2 Vol. 3 Page 35
31360

Return to be made to Agnes Stone. Sturminster Newton St. Lawrence.

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed 7 th June 1832 -
State of Connecticut County of Windham ss. 27 th November 1837 - On this 27 th day of November 1837 - Personally appeared in open Court, before the Probate Court for the district of Plainfield now sitting. Peter Potter, a resident of the town of Sterling in the county of Windham, State of Connecticut, aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn, according to Law, oath, 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 he was drafted & served two weeks in the Rhode Island Militia, as a private at the town of Warwick in the State of Rhode Island under Captain John King in the fall of the year 1776, and that he there in the same year enlisted into the minute company commanded by Captain Stephen Sheldon, & served three months in said company as a private at the town of Bristol at a place called Durdnett in said State under Lieutenant Westcott & Ensign Thomas Knight -
That in the year 1777 He served in said Militia four several tours of one month at each time as a class man, at the said town of Warwick, under Captain Thomas Rix in Colonel Watermans Regiment the first tour was in the latter part of Winter, & the last tour in the fall of said year -
And that in the months of September or October of the same year 1777 He served more than

one month at the Towns of Tiverton & Littlecompton in S t ate in General Spencer's Expedition, under Cap- tain Thomas Rice and Colonel Barton —
That in the year 1778 he served as a private in said Militia in General Sullivan's expedition under Captain Thomas Rice, in General Cornell's Brigade at the Island of Rhode Island in said State, & that he started from home to go onto Rhode Island on the 4 th day of August and Served one month, and was there during the great Storm —
That in the Summer of the Year 1779 he Served as a private in S t Militia One month at the said town of Bristol under Captain Thomas Rice —
That in the year 1780 he served one month as a private in S t Militia on Rhode Island under Cap t William Howard, also in the same Season he served one month under S t Captain as a private in S t Militia at the town of Warwick — & also he served one month in S t year, under S t Captain Howard at Bristol in S t State of Rhode Island — Lieut n Wells, was the Lieutenant of said Company & Samuel Perkins Ensign —
He is unable to specify his services in the Revo- lutionary War in any more particular manner than as above —
He further declares that he has no documentary evidence in support of his claim —
That the soldiers were quartered, subsisted and paid by the State of Rhode Island, and were said

for their services in continental paper money — He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 —
In answer to the interrogatories he says 1 st He was born in the Town of Cranston in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island 2 nd He does not know whether his birth is recorded or not —
3 rd He lived in Cranston where he was first called into Service, continued to live in Cranston until towards the last of his services in the Revolutionary War, when he removed to Scituate in the County of Providence State of Rhode Island where he lived when he left said Service — 4 th He served under General Spencer, General Sullivan, General Gurnell, Colonel William Barton, Colonel John Watermeyer, Colonel William West, Captain John King, Captain Thomas Rice & Captain William Howard.
his Peter X Potter mark
Sworn to & subscribed by his mark in presence of and in open court on the day and year above said before the Probate Court for the district of Plainfield in the State of Connecticut.
Present Joseph Eaton Judge attest John H. Gordon Clerk of Probate for the district of Plainfield For the proofs and evidence reference to be had to the Applicant's paper on the file of the Pension Office Joseph Eaton

I John H Gordon Clerk of the Probate Court for the district of Plainfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Peter Potter for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court, this 27 th day of November 1837 -
Attest John H Gordon Clerk of Probate for the district of Plainfield -

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section EEL
January 15, 1930
Miss Gladys H. Mowry Oneco Connecticut
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 14186, it appears that Peter Potter was born in 1751, in Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island.
While residing at Cranston, Rhode Island, he enlisted in August, 1776, and served until in 1780, at various times, amounting to about one year in all, as a private in the Rhode Island Troops under Captains John King, Stephen Sheldon, Thomas Rice and William Howard, Colonels John Waterman, William Barton and William West, and was in Generals Spencer's and Sullivan's Rhode Island Expeditions.
During the Revolution, he moved to Warwick, Rhode Island, and then to Scituate, Rhode Island, and in 1829, to Sterling, Windham County, Connecticut, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed December 16, 1836.
In 1838, the soldier was living with a daughter and her husband in Sterling, Connecticut, names not given and there are no further data as to family.
Very truly yours
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.
Date of death not sent B

Pueco, Conn.
Nov. 20, 1929.
Pension Bureau.
War Department, Washington, D.C.
Will you please tell me if a man named Peter Potter received a half pension from the government. According to his statement the pension began around the year 1839. At that time he was residing in the Town of Sterling, Conn. Thanking you for your trouble
Sincerely,
Gladys M. Mowry

Rev. 1880
14186 - INVALID.
1930 - Jan 15 - List. to Miss Gladys M. Morrow EGL
File No. 14186
Peter Patten
Phil. Pa. was
Act: June 9th 1832.
Index: - Vol. 1 , Page 305
[Arrangement of 1870.]

   76 —  1  ✓    77 —  3  ✓     4  ✓     1  10 ✓    78  1  ✓    x 79  1  —    80  1  — ✓        12.  10   
11 sn. 10 ag.
10 in 1779 not present
   Hempton — 76  4  ✓    77  1  10    78  1     80  1  —   
       8  10        7    
   Bennell 1776  11  ✓    77  1  ✓    78  1  ✓    80  1  ✓     1         5    
   Hans 76  3  for men men.    77  1  —    78  1  —    80  1      1         7    

Phila. a March 1 st 1838
I received the enclosed papers at eleven A. Clock last evening & late to transmit them I embrace the first opportunity to do so, you will perceive by the letter from Judge Eaton of Pensylvania how this case has been managed before you will give the case a favorable consideration.
Very Respectfully you the servant
Brinsfield
Hon J. G. Edwards Comm ee of Pensions Washington D.C.

Short Green Slot
In the Horn of Rep. two
Washington

Plainfield February 23 rd 1838
Dear Sir
I must request you to present again the case of old Mr. Potter to the pension office with the hope that he may obtain, what is thought by all his acquaintance to be justly entitled to. It appears by the letter you enclose to me, that the objection in the letter to Wm. Fuller Esq. dated May 29 th 1838 must be explained before his case can be considered to wit. "the affidavits & the declaration were all prepared in the State of Rhode Island in Sept 1836, and it only remained for the applicant to place his mark to the declaration which he did in December following!" The only explanation, that I suppose would be satisfactory, must be a detail of the circumstances by Judge Howard, by whose advice & assistance the applicant's papers were made out. Daniel Howard Esq. whose affidavit is enclosed, is a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Providence County R.I. He is well known to Mr. Billingshead of your house & Gov. Knight of the Senate. Should there be any question what credit should be given to his statements, I would refer you to those gentlemen for the character & standing of Judge Howard. Mr. Potter lives with a Daughter and Son in Law in the further part of Sturminster about eighty rods from the state line, having removed there several years ago, a short distance from his former residence in the adjoining Town of Foster in the State of R.I.

When he was first informed of the Pension Law, he was misinformed as to the description of service which would entitle the Applicant to the benefit of it. When he learned that it extended to the public service in the Militia he applied to Judge Howard, who had always lived by him, before his removal and then but a short distance from his residence to wit between five & six Miles, and in the Town where his witnesses were living for his advice & assistance, Judge Howard being then a Magistrate took the testimony for him, and as he was too infirm to travel the distance to Brooklyn with any comfort, he advised to have Judge Howard of our County Court come to his House & take his Declaration, which he did & Judge Howard attended and gave his assistance in making out the papers - Those papers were sent on & very properly returned, as Judge Chase did not constitute a Court of Record - The application was then made to the next Session of the County Court in December & Judge Howard again assisted in preparing his papers - Whatever was the error of Judge Howard in taking the declaration &c and also of Judge Howard in doing too much, if so of the writing in the case, it would seem to be very hard, after the explanation, in J. Howard  Howard Affidavit to say, that Mr Potter should be precluded from having his case examined & decided upon his sworn declaration &c

his proof. It is apparent how this Application has been postponed The blank of the County Court neglected to communicate the letter received from the Pension Office, which might be owing to the retired situation of Mr. Potter, and his difficulty in attending to it, being now in his eighty sixth year, and although he possesses a more than a usual share of Mind at that age, yet his hand troubles so much from bodily weakness as to be unable to write his name legibly. You would do a great favour to a very old man, who, I learn has always been respectable and while his strength lasted very industrious to present the within affidavit of Judge Howard to the Office, and obtain if consistent an examination of his case. I think the possession of Pensions upon examining the case with the Gordon which has always belonged to that Office will find no error bringing to that attaches to the applicant which will not be entitled to a favourable construction.
I am Sir with great respect Yours
Joseph Eaton

Mount Vernon N.E. Aug 16 Free
Aug 21 P. Advised Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C. 3
Pls. return to J. L. Edwards

Foster August 12. 1837,
Dear Sir, I have been requested by Peter Potter of Sterling in the State of Connecticut to write to you for the purpose of obtaining information respecting his Application for a Pension, I understand that the papers in his case was put into the Post Office at Brooklyn, Connecticut, in the forepart of the month of December 1836, and directed to you, and that there has been no return — Please to send his Pension Certificate to me in case the same is, or shall be granted on the papers in their present situation, or write respecting his case, and direct your communications to me at Mount Vernon Post Office, Foster, Rhode Island —
I am very Respectfully Your Obt. Servant
Daniel Howard
Hon ble J. L. Edwards. Court of Pensions.

I Darnel Howard of the Town of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island, being in the Fifty first year of my age, on oath, do testify and say - That on or about the fifth day of September 1835, Peter Potter residing in the Town of Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, came to my house in said Foster with David Stone, and informed me that he performed services as a Soldier in the Rhode Island Militia in the war of the Revolution several months, and made a statement of his services, which I then reduced to writing. He also informed me that there were persons then living in the said Town of Foster who were with him in service and by whom he expected he could prove his services, and gave me their names, and requested me to take their Depositions, which I did accordingly - and soon afterwards David Stone came to my house again and informed me that said Peter Potter was quite unwell and unable to attend Court for the purpose of making his Declaration, I then advised him to call on a Judge of the Court to come to his house and take his Declaration, and certify the fact of his sickness, thinking at the time that that would be sufficient - In a few days afterwards, Mr. Stone brought the declaration to me, taken before David Chase one of the Judges of the County Court for Windham County - which declaration together with the Affidavits taken in said case, I transmitted to the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington - And sometime in the forepart of the month of December 1836, Mr. Stone again came to my house and informed me that the papers were returned, accompanied with a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions, of which the following is a copy -
War Department, Pension Office Nov. 25 th 1836,
Sir, The papers relating to your claim to a pension under the Act of June 7 th 1832, have been examined, and are herewith returned - It is required by the regulations of this Department that claimants

under that Act make their Declarations in a Court of Record, and that the duration of each term of actual service be distinctly specified, as well as the names of the Officers in each town. Such qualifying expressions as "about one month," are objected to,
Mr Peter Potter, Sterling Connecticut,
I am respectfully Your Obedt Servt J. L. Edwards,
And Mr Stone said he thought that the said Peter Potter was then able to be carried to Brooklyn in Connecticut to attend the County Court, and make his Declaration in Court, and requested me to draw a form for his Declaration to be made in Court, for the purpose of having it made in correct form, which I accordingly did, stating therein the services as specified in his previous declarations taken by Judge Chase, and according to his first statements, which were reduced to writing by me, leaving one or more blank spaces, according to the best of my recollection, to be afterwards filled up when he should make his Declaration in Court, intending the same as merely a form of his declaration — and I heard no more of the case, as I recollect, until about the last of July or first of August 1837, when Mr Stone again called on me, and informed me that the Declaration was made in the County Court at Brooklyn in December 1836, and that the papers were enclosed, and directed to the Commissioner of Pensions, and that he put them into the Brooklyn Post Office , and had never heard from them since, and requested me to write to the Commissioner of Pensions, for the purpose of enquiring the cause of the delay, which I accordingly did, and in answer to my inquiry I received a letter of which the following is a copy — (enclosing a copy of a letter dated May 29 th 1837, which was addressed to Viril Fuller Esq r at Brooklyn, Connecticut .)

War Department, Pension Office August 26 th 1837.
Sir, In reply to your letter of the 12 th instant. I have to inform you that the papers in support of the claim of Peter Potter were examined on the 29 th of May last, and a Letter of which the enclosed is a copy was addressed to Uriel Fuller Esq r at Brooklyn Connecticut — I am respectfully Your Ob t Serv t
J. L. Edwards
Daniel Howard Esq r of Foster, Mount Vernon, Rhode Island.
And after receiving said Letter. I informed Mr Stone of the contents thereof, and as the mode in which the declaration seemed to have been  was made in the County Court at Brooklyn, was  seemed to be objectionable, it was thought best for Mr Potter to make his declaration anew in the Probate Court,
Daniel Howard
Connecticut Windham County ss
Storrs, February 22 1838
Personally appeared, the Hon ble Daniel Howard, the Signer of the above foregoing Affidavit, and being duly sworn, made oath to the truth of the facts therein contained
Before me Josiah Eaton Justice of Peace

I hereby certify, that Joseph Eaton Esq. signor of the within foregoing Instrument, is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Plainfield in the County of Windham State of Connecticut, and that full faith credit is to be given to his signa- ture as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of Office, as Clerk of Probate for this district, this 23 rd day of
February 1838
attest John H. Gordon Clerk of
Probate for the district of Plainfield
Hon. O. Holt.

32.844
Pete Potter
Cont
Red
Da 24 30
An OHoll AR

State of Connecticut } County of Windham } B -
On this 16 th day of December A.D. 1836,
Personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. County Court now in session at Brooklyn within & for the County of Windham afore-mentioned.
Peter Atter a resident of the Town of Sterling, in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty Five years, who being first duly sworn 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, and served as herein stated - That he first entered said service as a private soldier in the Rhode Island Militia in a General Alarm in the month of August in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Six, and marched to the Town of Warwick in said State of Rhode Island and performed actual service at the said Town of Warwick one month in the militia company commanded by Captain John King, and that he then enlisted into the minute company commanded by Captain Stephen Sheldon, and marched to the Town of Bristol in said State of Rhode Island and performed actual service three months in said company, under the said Captain Sheldon at said Bristol and at a place called Quidenwick in said State of Rhode Island in the fall of the Year 1776 - That he performed actual service four tours of one month at each time in the Rhode Island Militia at the said Town of Warwick in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven under Captain Thomas Rice, and that he performed actual service one month and ten days in the fall of the year 1777 in the Militia company commanded
1 10 9 10

by said Captain Thomas Rice at the Towns of Tiverton and Little Compton in said State of Rhode Island in General Spencer's expedition to Rhode Island,
That he performed actual service one month in the Militia company commanded by said Captain Rice at the Island of Rhode Island in the said State of Rhode Island in General Sullivan's expedition in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight, under General Ezekiel Cornell and Colonel William Barton, and was there during the great Storm in the month of August —
That he performed actual service one month in the Militia company commanded by Captain William Howard at the said Town of Bristol in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Nine,
That he performed actual service one month in the Militia company commanded by said Captain William Howard at the said Town of Warwick in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty —
And that he performed several other short tours of duty in the Revolutionary War in the General Alarms to the amount of half a month in the whole, under Captain Thomas Rice and Captain William Howard,
He further declares that he was born in the Town of Cranston in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island in the Year 1751. and resided in said Town of Cranston when he first entered the Revolutionary Service, but that he has no Record of his birth or age, as he knows or believes —
That he resided in the said Town of Warwick when he performed
his aforementioned services under Captain Thomas Rice,

and that he resided in the Town of Scituate (within the present limits of the Town of Foster in said State of Rhode Island) when he performed his said services under Captain William Howard,
That he afterwards removed to and resided in the said Town of Scituate until the Spring of the Year 1829, at which time he removed from the said Town of Scituate to the Town of Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, and that he has ever since resided in the said Town of Sterling, and that the Reverend John Hammond of the said Town of Foster (now residing in the Town of Coventry in the County of Kent in the said State of Rhode Island), both of which Towns adjoin the said Town of Sterling, and Southward Griffis of and residing in the said Town of Foster are persons to whom he is known, and who can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution, —
He further declares that he has no documentary evidence in support of his claim, —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 —
Peter his X Potter mark.
Sworn to 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 prescribed by the War Department that the abovenamed Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, —
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that John Hammond who has signed the annexed  present certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Coventry, And that Southward Griffis

who has also signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Foster, and is a credible person, and that this statement is entitled to credit —
I Uriel Fuller Clerk of the County Court for the County of Windham
do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Potter for a pension —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16 day of December Anno Domini 1836.
Uriel Fuller Clerk

Josiah Herrinton of the Town of Foster in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island being Seventy Six years of age, and duly sworn according to law, do testify and say - that I am well acquainted with Peter Potter residing in the Town of Sterling in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut, that the said Peter Potter was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, that he served one tour at Bristol and Quidnessick in the State of Rhode Island in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Six, under Captain Stephen Sheldon, but don't recollect how long he served that tour - and that he served four tours of one month each in the Rhode Island Militia at the Town of Warwick in said State in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven, and that he also served one month and about ten days at Giverton and Little Compton in said State of Rhode Island at the time of General Spencer's expedition at Rhode Island - and that he served one tour of about a month at Rhode Island in General Sullivan's expedition under General Cornell - and that he served one tour of about a month at Bristol in said State in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Nine, and that he served one tour of one month at said Warwick in Captain William Howard's Militia Company in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty the said Peter Potter resided in the Town of Cranston in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island when I first saw him in the Revolutionary service, but afterwards removed to the Town of Scituate within the present limits of the said Town of Foster, and resided there when he performed his last services in the Revolutionary Army - and that he turned out and did duty in times of the General Alarm and performed actual service at those times as much as a half a month in the whole, according to the best of my recollection and belief -
Josiah Herrinton Nov. 15 1892
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations County of Providence ss. For Foster in the County of Providence, On this twenty ninth day of September 1836. Personally appeared before me Daniel Howard Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County Josiah Herrinton above named and being first duly sworn according to law, made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, And I further certify that the said Josiah Herrinton is a credible person with whom I am acquainted and that he is entitled to full credit as a witness. Daniel Howard Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, County of Providence

I Asher Bennett of the Town of Foster in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island being Eighty three Years of age and duly sworn according to law do testify and say, that I am acquainted with Peter Potter now residing in Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut - and that the said Peter Potter was a private in the Army of the Revolution, that he served one tour in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Six in Captain Stephen Sheldon's Company, but don't recollect how long he served that tour, but I served with him at Bristol in the State of Rhode Island that tour about one month, and that the said Peter Potter served one tour in the Rhode Island Militia in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven at Givton and Little Crompton at the time of General Spencer's expedition to Rhode Island, and that I was there with him one month, or more, and that he served one tour in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight, and was on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's expedition under General Cornwall in the month of August, I don't particularly recollect how long he served on Rhode Island that tour, but think it was about a month - I recollect that he served two tours at Warwick in the Militia, during the Revolutionary War, the first tour was in the fore part of the War, and the last one was in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty according to the best of my recollection, but don't particularly recollect how long he was in actual service at Warwick, but believe it was about one month at each tour - and that the said Peter Potter resided in the Town of Cranston in said State of Rhode Island when he first entered the Revolutionary service - but afterwards removed to the Town of Scituate within the present limits of the Town of Foster, and lived there at the time he performed his last services, and belonged to Captain William Howard's Company -
As. B. 1836. B. 22. N. E. H. N o . 15691
State of Rhode Island } County of Providence } ss. In Foster in said County of Providence On this 12 th day of September 1836 - Personally appeared before me Daniel Howard Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County Asher Bennett abovenamed, and being first duly

Sworn according to law, made solemn oath to the truth of the above Affidavit by him subscribed, And I further certify that the said Asher Bennett is a credible person with whom I am well acquainted, and is entitled to full credit as a Witness —
Daniel Howard Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County of Providence

I James Howard of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island being Seventy Seven years of age, and duly sworn according to law do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Peter Potter who now resides in Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, and that the said Peter Potter was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution that he performed three months actual service in Captain Sheldons Company of minutemen (so called) at Bristol and Lendresick in the State of Rhode Island in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Six — And that the said Peter Potter served one tour in the Rhode Island Militia in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven at Giverton and Little Compton in said State and was at those places a month or more that tour — And that he served one tour in the Militia in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight at Rhode Island at the time of General Sullivans expedition, about one month — and that he served two tours of about One month each at Warwick in said State of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, the first of said Warwick tours was in the fore part of the War, and the last one was towards the close of the War, and was in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty according to the best of my recollection, he served the last tour in Captain William Howards Company
his James X Howard marks
State of Rhode Island } County of Providence } ss In Foster in said County of Providence On this twenty third day of September 1836,
Personally appeared Before me Daniel Howard Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County. James Howard abovenamed and being first duly sworn according to law, made solemn oath to the truth of the above Affidavit by him subscribed — I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said James Howard and that he is entitled to credit in his statements therein contained —
Daniel Howard Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County of Providence

We John Hammond of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Islands (now residing in Coventry in the County of Kent and State aforesaid) and Southard Griffin of and residing in the said Town of Foster, do hereby certify that We are well acquainted with Peter Potter a resident in the Town of Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that We believe him to be now Eighty Five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides and in the places where he formerly resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that We concur in that opinion —
John Hammond Southard Griffin
State of Rhode Island } County of Providence }
On this 13 th day of September 1836. Personally appeared before me Daniel Howard Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County John Hammond abovenamed and made oath to the truth of the above Affidavit by him subscribed. And on the 24 th day of September 1836. Personally appeared before me Southard Griffin abovenamed and made oath to the truth of the above Affidavit by him subscribed. — And I further certify that the said John Hammond is a Clergyman residing in the said Town of Coventry and that he and the said Southard Griffin are both credible persons with whom I am acquainted, and entitled to full credit as Witnesses —
Daniel Howard Justice of the Court of Common Pleas County of Providence
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss.
I Dexter Randall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County (being a Court of Record) do hereby certify that Daniel Howard Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn is a Justice of said Court: That he is by Law duly authorized & qualified to administer oaths & take depositions & that his signatures thereto written are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Providence this 30 th day of September A.D. 1836.
Dexter Randall Clerk