Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,842, for Samuel Sheffield, [Blank]

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Navy.
Sheffield Samuel
$ 39,842.
CONTENTS

2812.
Rhode Island Roll
Samuel Sheffield, H
d.c. A Mariner. P.D. Ship Reprisal Capt Weeks
In the Navy of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island — at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 30 th of March 1818 —
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd of Sep r 1818 — 1 and sent to same the gds. Post Office — Westerly Rhode Island
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1818 — 59 cts 231-430 41-58 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 th March 1819 — 48
$ 89-33
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
11 8 6 Monthly

A Regular Statement of the time and manner of my belonging to the Continental Service in the Revolution as far according to the Best of my Recollection —
In the month of November A.D. 1775. Elias Hemenway of New London appeared at Annapolis Point with sixteen new recruited men to man the fleet then fitting out for Philadelphia under the command of Esdaile Hopkins Esq; — I signed the articles and had orders to hold myself in readiness to sail. In the month of January we sailed from New London in order to go to Philadelphia to join the fleet — we arrived up Delaware Bay and found the River was frozen up above — we ran into a little Creek which led to a little Town called Greenwich where I was taken sick with the pleurisy and I was carried up to the said Town of Greenwich while I lay sick the Ice broke away and the fleet came down and took all hands on board except myself and proceeded to sea. Mr. Hemenway before he sailed came to me and told me when I got well enough to proceed directly to Congress and there I should receive orders what to do. In accordance to orders, as soon as I recovered of my sickness, proceeded immediately to Congress, where I arrived there as I was acquainted with none but the Representatives from Rhode Island. Mr. Wood and Mr. Hopkins I applied to them for a Discharge. They informed me that Congress had lately purchased a merchant ship and were then making some alterations to prepare her for a ship of war and was then enlisting men to man her, and of course could not discharge me as I was then under pay. They informed me also that if I would go to work on Board of the said ship I should have my wages and my monthly wages to continue. Accordingly, I went directly to work on Board the ship Reprisal, Lambert Weeks Esq; Commander. On the 16th of April they sent me a Carpenter's warrant to be Carpenter on Board said ship. The day on which Independence was declared we were lying at Cape May. The second day after this there came a man from Congress by the name of William Bingham (if my memory serves) with orders for us to proceed to sea and carry him to Martinique. The next day we sailed accordingly and convoyed out a fleet of thirty six sail of Merchantmen to a certain latitude and then to let them all take their own course. Several of them being bound to the same Islands with us, arrived there before us and gave information of our coming. The next day getting over to Martinique where there lay an English Squadron — The Commander of which

immediately sent a Ship over to Martinique of the same force of ours to intercept us, and when we arrived in sight of the port, the English Ship was lying at anchor under the fort. She directly made sail and came out and engaged us. The French sent a Buge and took Mr. Bingham out before the action commenced. The Ship engaged us for about three glasses and then ran from us. After our business was completed at Martinique we returned directly to Philadelphia and there I applied for a discharge and obtained it on the first day of October 1776. —
Samuel Sheffield
Respectfully I hereby certify that the within is a true copy of the original as shown to the Board of the following Declaration before me.
Given under my hand this 10th day of March 1818. I do hereby certify that the within is a true copy of the original as shown to the Board of the following Declaration before me. Samuel Bingham
Winton the 30th of March 1818. —
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above mentioned Samuel Sheffield that he is an industrious, temperate man and in indigent circumstances by reason of Misfortunes — a few years past he Built a Ship for a Merchant who soon afterwards Broke and Mr. Sheffield lost about all he was worth except his Household Furniture. Mr. Sheffield is now in his sixty eighth year of his age and rather infirm.
Jobson Stanton Daniel Willcocks Joseph Pundleton

Sam. Sheffield
2812
March 189.

State of Rhode-Island & Providence-Plantations.
WASHINGTON, sc — Court of Common Pleas, Special Term, A. D. 1820
ON this Sixth day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c.
Samuel Sheffield aged Seventy Years residing in the Town of Westerly in said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: —
That he Served as a Mariner on board the United States Ship of War Reprisal and Other Vessels of War during the term of about one Year and was Honorably discharged Sam. Sheffield
That he made a previous Declaration on the Thirtieth Day of March 1818, and that he has received a Certificate for a Pension, being No. 2812 — And in pursuance of the Act of Congress, passed May 1st, 1820, I do solemnly swear, That I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
A SCHEDULE of Property and Income, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of Samuel Sheffield, now nine Years Old, 1 Hog, 1 old Maple Desk, 1 old Case drawers, 2 Tables been in use 40 Years, 11 Old Chairs, Iron Ware only Sufficient for family Use, Brocken Ware only Sufficient about half a set of Ship Carpenter's Tools — That he is a Ship Carpenter by profession and is unable to Labour but very little. That he has a Wife Aged Sixty Three Years and is in an ill State of Health, one Daughter Aged 40 Years and unable to do much towards the support of his family and one Other Daughter Aged 23 Years and that he has no Other means of Support but by his Labour and the Charity of his friends and that if his Pension should be withdrawn he would be Destitute and unable to Maintain his family without Assistance from his friends or the Publick.
Sam. Sheffield
Sworn to and declared, on the 15th day of July 1820 before in Open Court Witness Sam. Helme Clerk of said Court
Washington, sc. Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas. A D 1820
I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Washington, in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records of said Court; — And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is Thirty One Dollars, and Seventy Five Cents.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Sixth Day of July 1820
Sam Helme Clerk of said Court.

Invalid
CONFIDENTIAL
Navy
File No.
Samuel Sheffield A Manner of his Reprisal Revolutionary
Act 18 th March 1818.
Index: Vol. _____, Page _____
 [Arrangement of 1870.] 

Invalid
XXXXXXXXXX
Navy
File No.
Samuel Sheffield & Mrs. M. Pierce This Reprisal Revolutionary
Act 8th March 1818
Index: Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1916 July 25: 2 pages photostat copies of warrant of Samuel Sheffield. (see neg.) Furnished Mrs. Grace M. Pierce Columbia Dept. Wash. D.C. (see receipt for payment in Henry Chapman. Conn. Cont. S 2463) and 1920 May 21. Note of warrant furnished W.S. Lingen 2235 D. St. Wash. (see receipt for payment in the same) etc.

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WARRANT.
THE MARINE COMMITTEE appointed by Congress, to equip and fit out the Fleet of the United Colonies, having received such Recommendations as satisfy them, that you Samuel Shipfield are duly qualified for the
Office of Carpenter WE have therefore appointed you the said Samuel Shipfield
to be Carpenter
on Board the Ship hereby giving you full power to exercise the office aforesaid, agreeable to the Rules and Regulations of the Sea Service, and such Orders as you may re- ceive from your superior Officers. And for your so doing, this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given under our hands at
Philadelphia April 1776
William J. Hancock John Adams Samuel Adams Richard D. Webb Richard D. Webb Samuel D. Harkness Samuel D. Harkness

In Marine Committee
Philad. a October 1st 1776
Resolved
That M c . Samuel Shuffeldt Captain of the Reprisal Ship of War be discharged from the Service, he having solicited the Same on account of some business he has to transact at Rhode Island his native place —
Extract from the Minutes
John Brown Supt.
All persons are desired to permit the Above Samuel Shuffeldt to pass on to Rhode Island to transact the business mentioned above —
By order of the Committee
John Brown
Peter Kettle 6 th Dec 1, 1776
Permit the bearer to pass things sorry to be Phila- delphia by order of Genl. Keate

3 pages from Samuel Sheffield. S.39842 3 " " Caleb Gibbs. W.24277 2 " " Wm Sturdivant. W.4817 2 " " John Watkins Watkins W.19383 1 " " Henry Champion S.12463 1 " " Samuel Sapsley. W.9149  12 pages.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS Finance Division
MAY 20 1920
19 ____
Chief of Adm. War Section
Sir:
I have this day received from Miss C. S. Lincoln draft No. Cash for $1,100 requesting post-office addresses as per letter herewith
 Photos marked May 21. 1920 Law Div. Not sent 
Very respectfully,
 W. L. [Signature] Chief of Division.

Cash $1.80 from Miss N. S. Lincoln 72235 Q St. N.W. - D.C. for copies of 12 pages from six Rev. War claims.
Proctor Law 5/19/20 mhz
No receipt desired.

No. _____
Date May 21 1940
Name Samuel Sheffield No. SW File 29542 Mars Rev.
Photographic copies wanted of 3 pieces, consisting of 3 pages.
Remarks:
Dr. Wilson Br. W. T. W. Chief Record Div.
2037
Law Clerk.
Serial
13 - 1 4 2

James Sheffield of Westerly in the County of Washington of Lawful Age makes solemn Affirmation as follows. That he is well acquainted with Samuel Sheffield of Westerly and to his certain knowledge the said Samuel has been assisted by his friends for Twenty Years past in a charitable way without which the deponent is fully satisfied that he could not have supported his family in a comfortable manner until since he obtained his Pension and should that be taken from him he is decidedly of the opinion that the said Samuel and his family cannot subsist comfortably without having recourse to charitable means.
James Sheffield.
State of Rhode Island &c. Washington County. Sep 3. At Westerly on the 12 th Day of July. 1820 In his proper person came James Sheffield subscriber to the foregoing Deposition and made solemn Affirmation to the truth of the same.
Before Amos Crop. C. J. C. C. Phas.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with James Sheffield Esq. Subscriber to the preceding Declaration who is a man of respectability and is respected for his undoubted truth and veracity.
Dated at Westerly this 12 th Day of July 1820.
Amos Crop. C. J. C. C. Phas.

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Washington County, ss. Clerk's Office Court Com. Phas July. 13. 1820.
I certify That the Honble Amos Dyer Esq m whose signature is hereto Affixed is Chief Justice of the Court Aforesaid Legally chosen & qualified as the Law requires. That full & credit ought to be given to his Certificate throughout the United States and that the Seal here impressed is the true Seal of the Court Aforesaid.
Helm. Sam l Holme Clk of Court.