Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23838, for Peter Pearce, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
Red.
Pearce, Peter
S. 23838
CONTENTS

New York 24.597
Peter Pearce
Saratoga in the State of New York he was a private in the Company commanded Captain Miller of the regt. commanded in the R.I. army for 17 mos 10 ds.
inscribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 57 Dollars 76 Cents per annum. commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Jan. 1834 and sent to Hon. J. Cramer H Rep.
arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833. $144.40 semi-annual allowances ending March 34. 28.88
$173.28
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk. book Vol. 4 Page 114

Peter Pearce
18203
✓
Admitted
Private 17 Minn. B th Inf try
On rolls of Col Crump Regiment
56.66
1.10
57.76
115.52
28.88
144.40
Hans J. Cramer House Reps N.D.

5 George Palmer the Swage before the preceding and annexed declaration and affidavits of Peter Pearce was made as certify that from the continued bodily infirmity of the said Peter he is unable to appear in court, and also that the said Peter Pearce this 15 day of April 1833. came before me being still a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county of Hampshire and made the following supplemental affidavits. that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot speak positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades.
That he served as a private in his first tour of duty under Captain Knight at least two months.
That he was engaged as a private in his second tour of duty, ten days. That from the Spring of 1776. to the Spring of 1778. he was engaged at least twelve months - being unable to arrive with any greater certainty to the time spent in this occasional service, and from the reasons then stated, he repeats his belief, that he was on duty at least one half of the time - He served as a private.
That he served as he has stated in what is described as his fifth tour of duty, at least one year. He served as a private. And respondent also says that since his first application, he has not been able to discover, whether any person is now alive or not, (Enoch Place, who has made affidavits of respondent's service,) that can prove the facts and circumstances attending those parts of his said application. And respondent also says that the poverty and infirmity of respondent enables him from going to Rhode Island, in search of witnesses to prove the additional periods of service set forth in his original application, and he relinquishes all claims, to any other benefit than the stated above precipitated.
Sworn before me April 15. 1833.
George Palmer Judge of Hampshire Common Pleas
Peter Pearce
Endorsement of Palmer

State of New York
Saratoga County } ss
I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do certify that George Palmer before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature -
Witness my hand seal at Office the fifteenth day of April 1833 -
A Goodrich Clerk

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832. 9 State of New York. Saratoga county ss.
On this 23. day of August. 1832 personally came and appeared before me George Palmer a judge of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Saratoga aforesaid, Peter Pearce, 82 years, on the tenth day of November last, who being 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. 1832. That he is of the age above stated, and once had a record of it, which was burnt in the dwelling house of Thomas Wilson, more than 20 years ago. That he was born in Little Compton, county of New Port, state of Rhode Island, on the 10. day of November 1750. and when about 16 years of age, he removed from Little Compton to Scituate, county of Providence, in the state aforesaid where he resided at the commencement of the revolutionary war. and after its termination removed to Saratoga, in the county of Saratoga, and has resided there, and at his present residence, in the town of Stillwater, in that county, ever since. and deponent further says, That at said Scituate, in the latter part of 1775. or early in the year 1776. deponent with about 30 of his neighbours, signed an agreement to serve in defence of their country, as minute men or volunteers, as choose, as Captain of their company Joseph Knight, who then held that commission, Stephen Leach as Lieutenant, and Jonathan Smith as Ensign. and the company, in pursuance of orders from the Governor of Rhode Island, or General Brownell then a General of Militia, went immediately to Rhode Island & removed the cattle, corn, hay &c. to prevent the same from falling into the hands of the British, who were then in possession of Boston, and were hourly expected to make a landing and commit depredations on Rhode Island.
That deponent with his company marched by land from Scituate aforesaid to the Island, a distance of fifty miles, and he cannot recollect particularly the time this tour of duty embraced, but-possibly believes, it was two months or more, deponent remembering, he was almost almost all winter.
(That about planting time (which was generally the last week in April or first in May) 1776. deponent and his company were again called out by orders from some higher authority, to drive off a party of British, who had taken possession of Providence Island and burnt all the captain of the dwelling houses. The company had a skirmish with, before they succeeded in driving the British from the Island. Providence was about 40 miles off. a part of the journey was performed by water, a great part by land. deponent thinks he was engaged in this service about ten days.

The same officers commanded. Deponent does not recollect, that any of the above company are now living.
Deponent says that from the time he returned from the expedition to Prudence Island, he with his said company, then commanded by Samuel Weillner, as Captain, Mr. Knight having been promoted to a majority till the spring of 1778. he was engaged, some time for a month or so. and with an intermission of a month or so, in guarding the mainland against the threatened attempts of the British fleet to invade it.
Deponent says, that he nearly believes, that from what he recollects of the frequency of the alarms and fatigue he underwent, he spent one half of this period in the military service of his country.
Deponent says that in the spring of the year 1778 or situated aforesaid, he thinks in the month of April, he enlisted into the state troops of Rhode Island, as deponent thinks and believes for fifteen months and is certain, for twelve months. Nathan Sneyd was captain = Ross lieutenant, his Ensigns name he does not remember - an enlisted braves was colonel of the Regiment = Williams Lieut. colonel, Christopher Manchester Major. and Enoch Place of Milton, Saratoga County, Serjeant Major. Recollects John Pearce, Joseph Edwards, Israel Shipsey and Paul Shipsey belonged to the company. General Slocum commanded the militia. All the above named persons. Deponent believes to be dead except Mr. Place. The company was marched to Bristol, Rhode Island and there consolidated into the Regiment under the above named officers. It was stationed at Bristol guarding the country until the last of July, or first of August, when it crossed by water from Bristol on the main to Rhode Island and took its station at Battery Hill. From thence marched to New Port. Rhode Island and assisted in besieging the place, then possessed by the British = It was called Sullivan's expedition - General Sullivan had the command and deponent saw him there. Deponent was in a partial battle which was fought on the 28 August 1778. as deponent best recollects the time, between the American and British troops on the retreat of the former from before New Port. The American forces evacuated the Island in a few days thereafter. Deponent's Regiment landing at Tiverton on the main. From the time of the retreat, and
during the winter until spring, deponent was engaged in guarding

during the winter, until spring, deponent was engaged in guarding the shores, and as he believes having fully performed his tour or term of enlistment, was discharged or dismissed verbally, in that spring or shortly after and in less than a month, deponent received a commission of ensign in his old company, the said William was captain and Thomas Field Lieutenant. signed by the then Governor of Rhode Island, whose name deponent thinks was Arthur Fenner. That deponent during the month he held his commission, discharged all the men that were dismissed of him.
He was then appointed captain over his old company by the same Governor. Thomas William was his lieutenant, & Benjamin Wood his ensign. The above named Joseph Knight was his colonel - His company was called out for exercise pretty much every day and attachments of them often went to guard the coast from the incursions of the enemy. and remained in command of his company doing every duty that was required of him, until the termination of the war. Remembers that Christopher Edwards Stephen Young, Jr. John Young, Robt William, William Van, John Van his brother, William William & Levi Austin were soldiers belonging to his company. all of whom are dead, or very old living in the state of Rhode Island. more than 175 miles off. and to prove by them if living, the facts here set forth, this deponent from bodily infirmity and want of property. is unable to do. - Both of deponent's commissions are lost or destroyed. and deponent says that he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person except Enoch Place whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services, and he relinquishes all other claims, and that his name is not on any pension roll. And deponent states the names of Abraham Knight, Enoch Place in his neighbourhood, who can testify as
to his character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Peter Dearle
Subscribed & sworn to this 23 day of August 1832.
George Palmer

127 I George Palmer the Judge before whom the within affidavit of Peter Pearce a revolutionary soldier was taken and declarations made do certify that the said Peter Pearce, is from bodily infirmity, unable to appear in court, and that I propounded all necessary interrogatories to the said Peter which are prescribed in the regulations relative to pensions under the act of June 7. 1832. which were satisfactorily answered Given under my hand August 23. 1832.
George Palmer.

State of New York, Saratoga County, ss.
On this fifth day of September A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas held in and for the county aforesaid, now sitting. Enoch Place, of the age of Seventy Seven, who being first duly sworn says, that he was born in the town of Providence , county of Providence, state of Rhode Island, and now resides, in the town of Milton, in said county, where he has resided a principal part of the time, since the termination of the revolutionary war. That he served during the revolutionary war in the Rhode Island troops, in different military operations, and belonged in the year 1778. as sergeant major, to a Regiment stationed on and near Rhode Island, commanded by Archibald Crary. That deponent then knew, and has been acquainted with Peter Pearce, whose affidavit is herewith annexed, and has known him ever since. That the said Peter Pearce in the early part of the said year 1778. enlisted into a company of militia, whose captain was Nathan Oney, and Lieutenant. Ross, to serve for the term of one year. That deponent saw the said Peter at Butts Hill. saw him on his march to New port and saw him often and almost every day whilst the American Army was besieging New port. and on his retreat. Saw him several times after the Regiment of the said company had landed at Tivertown and this deponent has no doubt but that the said Peter fully and honorably performed at this time, one years service.
(That the said Peter has always been considered as being a soldier of the Revolution, and having at one time bore the office of captain in the Rhode Island troops.)
Sworn to in Open Court } this 5 th day of September 1832 }
Enoch Place
Thomas Palmer Clerk

We Abraham Wright of Easton in the County of Wash- ington State of New York and Abraham Duce of Sar- atoga in the County of Saratoga State of New York hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Pearce who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 82- years of age that he is reputable and believed in the neigh- borhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the Revolutionary and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed this ————— 3 day and year aforesaid in open Court Thomas Palmer Clerk      Ab m Wright Abraham Duce
And the said Court certify that it appears to them Abraham Wright who has signed the foregoing Certificate is a reputable Person resi- dent in the town of Easton in the County of Washington That Abra- ham Duce who has also signed the same is a Resident in the town of Saratoga in the County of Saratoga is a credible Person That their statement is entitled to credit.
I Thomas Palmer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the origi- nal proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Pearce for a pension. And I do further certify that George Palmer before whom the foregoing Declaration purports to have been sworn read at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga That I am acquainted with his hand writing surely believe his name subscribed to the said Declaration & to the Certificate endorsed thereon to be his proper hand writing & signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fifth day of September 1832
Thomas Palmer Clerk

Saratoga Common Pleas—
Of April term in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
And the said Court now here do further certify, that Enoch Place, who has subscribed the foregoing Affidavit herein contained, which was sworn to before this Court on the 5 th day of September last, is a credible person and his statement entitled to credit—
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of the said Court the thirteenth day of April 1833 —
A. Goodrich Clerk
reasons then stated, he repeats his belief that he was in auto. or

Reuben
23838 INVALID.
File No. 23,838
Peter Pearce
Pr Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 318
[Arrangement of 1870.]